An unusual cause of B12 deficiency.

[wedgewood]

I am writing about this as I have never seen it mentioned as a cause of B12 deficiency, I have a friend who works in a posh hotel in Rome. She is allowed to eat whatever she fancies,and she fancies smoked salmon! She eats it several times a week. She became very unwell, exhausted, listless and depressed. Her doctor found out that her tummy was infested with fish tape-worms, who were robbing her of B12. Treatment with an antibiotic cleared it up, and she is back to full health now. Obviously the smoking doesn't kill off the tape worms. So now she freezes smoked salmon before eating it!!!

[Gambit62 Administrator]

Interesting - but hopefully not very common. Not surprising though that an intestinal parasite would deplete nutrients.

[Frodo]

I think I've seen it mentioned as a major cause of B12 def in Japan?

[Harvena]

One of the original PAS forum Admins (Andrea) who now admins the Facebook group was made very, very ill from fish worm infestation, sadly it was a very long time before it was discovered and it has left her with lasting problems. I would add that she is an amazing person and works tirelessly both to help us people in the PAS group and at a higher level lobbying the powers that be for better diagnosis and treatment.

A big thank you to Admins of all such groups who give their time and knowledge so generously.

[rusholme]

I second that wholeheartedly. I've learnt so much from both this and the Facebook site (facebook.com/groups/PAB12DS... and marvel at the hours they invest. Many thanks to Gambit, Polaris, Sleepybunny to name but a few. They are so generous with their time, and never fail to answer personal messages which I have sent direct to them.

[shellywidga]

I can't seem to can't seem to access the Facebook Link - it say's it's broken....a bit like me this morning Lol.

I really just wanted to add: a huge thanks also to Gambit & Sleepybunny, I have only been on this site for a week & still finding my way around but they always find the time to help, advise & share their knowledge x

[clivealive Forum Support]

There are several PA "NOW CLOSED" Groups on FB

However there is one simply called "Pernicious Anaemia"

Type this into the "Search" box at the top left of the page and it will take you there

[Erainy]

To kill parasite eggs, fish has to be frozen at -40C so domestic freezing won't do since they are at around -18 to -20C or there about.

[Sleepybunny]

I think that fish tapeworm infestation causes raised levels of some white blood cells but can't remember which.

The FBC (Full Blood Count) lists amounts of white blood cells.

nhs.uk/Conditions/Tapeworm-...

nhs.uk/Conditions/Tapeworm-...

[Sleepybunny in reply to Sleepybunny]

I think fish tapeworm infestation results in high eosinophils.

My eosinophil levels have always been fairly low in range but I would investigate this possibility if the levels shot up at next FBC (Full Blood Count).`

When I looked online I found an article about a Japanese man who had become riddled with fish tapeworm through eating sushi.