An 82-year-old woman in Hangzhou, China, suffering from severe back pain, believed the folk remedy that 'swallowing live frogs can cure back pain'. She went on to swallow a total of eight live frogs, which put her health in grave danger.
According to reports from Hangzhou Daily and Nanguo Jinbao, the woman, known by the pseudonym Granny Zhang, originally had a lumbar disc herniation for which doctors advised rest and avoiding strenuous activities. Unwilling to endure long-term pain, she sought out folk remedies and, upon hearing that 'swallowing live frogs can cure back pain,' she proceeded to do so without telling her family.
She swallowed three frogs on the first day and five more the next day. A few days later, she began experiencing severe abdominal pain and became bedridden. Her family rushed her to the hospital, where doctors found significant thickening of her gastric antrum and peritonitis, suspecting a parasitic infection.
Further tests at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine confirmed a diagnosis of sparganosis infection. Infectious disease attending physician Shi Haiyan pointed out that the act of 'swallowing live frogs' not only damages the digestive tract but also gives parasites an opportunity to invade the body. After half a month of treatment, Granny Zhang gradually recovered and was discharged.
Infectious disease department deputy director Wu Zhongwen revealed that this is not the first such case. In recent years, the hospital has received multiple cases of parasitic infections caused by swallowing raw snake gallbladders and fish gallbladders, or even applying peeled frog skins to the body. Most patients were elderly, harmed by misplaced faith in folk remedies and lacking family communication.
Dr. Wu cautioned that parasitic infections can lead to skin disorders, impaired vision, and in severe cases, parasites may invade the brain, causing epilepsy or even endangering life. He urged the public not to consume wild animals raw or trust unverified folk remedies, but to maintain good food hygiene practices and separate raw and cooked foods. If any discomfort occurs, seek medical attention immediately.