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Have I just eaten a roundworm on holiday?!

15 replies

lilsatto · 14/05/2024 16:42

On holiday in Europe - nowhere exotic/no obvious food concerns. Ordered some pork at our hotel today and after a bite or two noticed something sticking out of it. Pulled it and it came out easily...and appeared to be a worm, a couple of centimetres long 😖 After way too much time Googling it looks like if it is a worm it would most likely be a roundworm - other parasites like tapeworms grow inside you after you eat them and wouldn't appear as a worm at this point.

What would you do? Apparently roundworm infections are really rare in commercial meat nowadays, including in the country we're in, but it's really not something you want to catch. Do I just tell myself it's nothing unless I start to become ill? Or call my travel insurer? I've told guest services and after calling loads of people over to have a look, they said a manager would call me once they'd investigated a bit, but it's been hours now and I expect the managers will be clocking off for the day.

On holiday with a young BF baby so the last thing we need is to be wondering about getting really ill. Trying not to think about how much I ate if any from the couple of bites. Thanks for any moral support!

OP posts:
bbqsalt · 14/05/2024 16:44

prepare to lose weight

Pootles34 · 14/05/2024 16:46

I can't imagine it'll be a problem assuming the pork was cooked?

caffelattetogo · 14/05/2024 16:49

Was it still alive?

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cuckyplunt · 14/05/2024 16:53

You’ve bitten the worm in two, it’s not bits of adult you should be worried about, it’s the eggs. Cooked meat should be fine but you can get stuff from the pharmacist if you won’t to dose yourself as a precaution

lilsatto · 14/05/2024 16:53

Ha - thanks @bbqsalt!

@Pootles34 and @caffelattetogo - the pork was cooked (but who knows how well) and whatever it was didn't seem to be moving (perhaps because it was no longer whole - bleh).

OP posts:
lilsatto · 14/05/2024 17:00

cuckyplunt · 14/05/2024 16:53

You’ve bitten the worm in two, it’s not bits of adult you should be worried about, it’s the eggs. Cooked meat should be fine but you can get stuff from the pharmacist if you won’t to dose yourself as a precaution

Big thanks, @cuckyplunt - that makes a lot of sense. My only concern is if the adult is likely to be accompanied by eggs and if it wasn't cooked that well. I think it was reheated (i.e. precooked and then finished on a grill) which is perhaps not great. Will have a look into taking a precautionary dose.

OP posts:
Upallnight2 · 14/05/2024 17:02

If its cooked you will be fine. Its disgusting though! I once found a big worm in some (youngs) fish I'd bought and cooked from frozen 🤮

SauvignonBlonk · 14/05/2024 17:05

It’ll do you no harm to get the human worming pills from a pharmacy- I’d probably do that to reassure myself!

Allthehorsesintheworld · 14/05/2024 17:06

Glad I’m vegan.
OP I’d go to a pharmacist. Explain the worm, and the fact you're breastfeeding.

TakeOnFlea · 14/05/2024 17:22

Oh god. I've just nearly vomited reading your post. Surely you brought it back up? 🤢

DuckyShincracker · 14/05/2024 17:35

If you can't get the meds on holiday get them once you are home. Sorry that's happened to you on your holiday.

mitogoshi · 14/05/2024 17:46

Just nip to the pharmacy when you get home as a precaution, it's not that big a deal medically, just the ick factor

MrsLeavemealone · 14/05/2024 17:57

Ovex works on roundworms. What country are you in? Pharmacies in Europe tend to be excellent, just nip in with Google translate and buy some preventative meds to give you piece of mind.

I had a similar thing once when I was a child when eating meat. I have been completely vegetarian since!

lilsatto · 14/05/2024 20:06

Really appreciate it, thanks all. I didn't realise Ovex was the default treatment - that's reassuring. The hotel is nowhere near a pharmacy but perhaps I'll need to wait a bit before I take it anyway? Presumably the problem is that the worm will likely be accompanied by eggs and those eggs will hatch at some point. I think Ovex only works once the eggs are hatched?

Bit annoyed with the hotel that there's been radio silence since lunchtime when they said the manager would check it with the chef and call me. Feels like people just can't be arsed in customer service nowadays!

OP posts:
InYourBedNow · 14/05/2024 20:10

bbqsalt · 14/05/2024 16:44

prepare to lose weight

Ooh I could do with my own roundworm.

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