82-year-old Chinese woman hospitalised after swallowing eight live frogs to treat back pain
An 82-year-old woman in eastern China was hospitalised after swallowing eight live frogs in a misguided attempt to cure her back pain — a traditional folk remedy that left her infected with parasites.
- Elderly woman hospitalised after swallowing eight live frogs in Hangzhou, Zhejiang.
- Doctors found severe sparganum infection, caused by parasites in raw frogs.
- Health experts warn against unsafe folk remedies still common among the elderly.
HANGZHOU, CHINA — An 82-year-old woman in Zhejiang province was hospitalised after swallowing eight live frogs in an attempt to cure her chronic back pain — a misguided folk remedy that left her infected with dangerous parasites.
Folk remedy gone wrong
According to Hangzhou Daily, the elderly woman, surnamed Zhang, had long suffered from a herniated disc and reportedly heard from neighbours that eating live frogs could relieve pain. Without informing her family, she asked them to catch small frogs — each roughly the size of an adult’s palm.
Over two days, Zhang swallowed three frogs on the first day and five on the second, all raw. At first, she experienced mild stomach discomfort, but her condition quickly worsened, and her son rushed her to Zhejiang University No. 1 Affiliated Hospital.
Doctors discover parasite infection
Doctors diagnosed Zhang with a severe sparganum infection, a tapeworm-related parasite commonly found in amphibians. The worms can infect the digestive tract and migrate to other organs, causing serious complications.
She was treated with antiparasitic medication over two weeks and has since been discharged.
A senior physician, Dr Wu Zhongwen, said such cases are “not rare,” noting that some elderly patients still rely on traditional but unsafe remedies such as swallowing raw frogs, snake gall, or fish gall to treat ailments.
“These so-called cures can cause infections, blindness, or even death,” he warned.
Similar incidents spark public warning
In a separate case in the same province, a six-month-old baby developed lead poisoning after her mother applied an online “remedy” involving soaking her hand in lead acetate to treat eczema.
Doctors have urged the public to avoid unscientific medical practices spread through social media or word of mouth, emphasising the importance of consulting licensed medical professionals for health concerns.
