Medical professionals discover unique parasite within the body of a North Korean defector who endured five gunshot wounds during his escape
A North Korean defector, who was shot five times while crossing the demilitarized border zone between North and South Korea, is currently in critical condition after two rounds of surgery. The defector, who remains unnamed, is infected with a previously unknown parasite, causing tremendous complications in their treatment.
According to Lee Guk-jong, the physician treating the defector, they are struggling with the treatment due to a large number of parasites in the defendant's stomach. The parasites found in the defector's stomach were invading and eating into the wounded areas, adding to the defector's already critical condition.
The parasite found in the stomach of the North Korean defector is a newly identified species of flatworm, which had never been previously found in South Korea or likely in other parts of the world. It's uncertain if the parasite has been found in other parts of the world.
North Korean defectors often arrive in South Korea with parasites, but the case of the shot defector is considered more severe than other defectors' cases. One patient was found to have more than 30 types of roundworms in her body. The defector's condition suggests a high risk of many complications in treatment.
The discovery of this unknown parasite in the defector could be evidence of strained ties along the North Korea border. Lee Guk-jong, the physician who treated the defector, stated that the defector has 'everything that he could have.' The defector's treatment may be complicated due to the state of shock and heavy bleeding.
The defector's small intestine is ruptured and contaminated with fecal matter, adding to the challenges faced by the medical team. The defector's prognosis is uncertain, but it's likely that they have a worse prognosis than other general trauma patients.
According to Korea Biomedical Review, the defector remains in critical condition after the two rounds of surgery. The presence of the unknown parasite is causing tremendous complications in the defector's treatment, and the medical team continues to work tirelessly to save the defector's life.
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