An 82-year-old woman in Hangzhou, China, was hospitalised in September after swallowing eight live frogs in a misguided attempt to treat her back pain. The woman, identified as Zhang, believed the folk remedy would alleviate pain from a herniated disc.
Zhang consumed the frogs raw over two days, each smaller than a human palm. Shortly after, she experienced severe abdominal pain and difficulty walking, prompting her son to take her to Zhejiang University’s Affiliated Hospital.
Doctors ruled out tumours but found elevated oxyphil cells, often linked to blood disorders and parasitic infections. Further tests confirmed the presence of sparganum, a parasite commonly found in amphibians. The frogs had damaged her digestive system and introduced the parasites into her body.
Zhang underwent a two-week treatment regimen and was later discharged. Senior doctor Wu Zhongwen noted that similar cases have emerged in recent years, with some elderly patients resorting to ingesting frogs, applying frog skin, or consuming raw fish and snake gall without informing their families.
Wu warned that these practices lack scientific support and can lead to serious health risks, including brain infections and vision loss. He added that such remedies have gained traction online despite their dangers.
