Attack of The Face-Eating Parasite | Monsters Inside Me | Animal Planet

Summary

Adam Spencer, a 23-year-old from Vanita, Oregon, embarks on a six-month journey through South America with his girlfriend, Shayen Pack. While traveling, Adam develops a mysterious pimple that turns out to be a deadly parasite, causing severe disfigurement. Diagnosed with mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, a rare and potentially fatal disease, Adam undergoes intense treatment. Despite the challenges and fears, Adam finds strength in his relationship with Shayen, who supports him throughout the ordeal. Their love story, set against the backdrop of their adventurous travels, showcases resilience and hope in the face of life-altering health battles.

Takeaways

• 😀 Adam Spencer and his girlfriend Shayen Pack are recent college graduates who saved up for a six-month trip to South America.
• 😀 They visited several locations, including Peru, where Adam proposed to Shayen at Machu Picchu.
• 😀 During their travels, Adam developed a pimple on his cheek, which they initially thought was an infection from not showering.
• 😀 The pimple grew larger, becoming more concerning and eventually exploding overnight after a night of partying in Bolivia.
• 😀 Adam visited Dr. William MTH, an infectious disease specialist, who suspected cutaneous leishmaniasis, a parasite transmitted by sandflies.
• 😀 Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a parasitic infection that causes skin sores and can spread to other parts of the body, potentially becoming life-threatening.
• 😀 Dr. MTH expressed concern that Adam’s infection might have developed into mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, which can destroy soft tissue and be fatal.
• 😀 Adam experienced worsening symptoms, including swelling, oozing sores, and difficulty eating and breathing, while waiting for test results.
• 😀 After a few weeks, the CDC confirmed Adam had mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, and he began a 21-day intravenous treatment with amphotericin B.
• 😀 Adam contracted the parasite during his time in the Peruvian Amazon, where he was bitten by sandflies, unaware of the risk of leishmaniasis.
• 😀 Despite the severity of the condition, Adam showed signs of improvement after five days of treatment and continued recovery after 11 days, though his battle with the parasite was far from over.

Q & A

What was Adam and Shayen's motivation for traveling to South America?

Adam and Shayen were motivated by their passion for traveling and their desire to experience the culture of South America, especially the tropics.

What significant event happened at Machu Picchu during their trip?

At Machu Picchu, Adam proposed to Shayen, asking her to marry him, which was a surreal and special moment for both of them.

How did Adam first notice something unusual on his face during the trip?

Adam first noticed something unusual when he caught his reflection in a rearview mirror in Bolivia, noticing a pimple that was swollen and hardening with a scab.

What did Adam initially think was causing the swelling on his cheek?

Adam initially thought it was just an infected pimple caused by not showering and staying in dirty hostels during their travels.

What happened to the pimple while Adam was in Cochabamba, Bolivia?

In Cochabamba, Bolivia, the pimple grew significantly, becoming the size of a small pea with a scab, and Adam applied antibiotic ointment, but it only started oozing and didn’t improve.

What diagnosis did Dr. William MTH suggest when examining Adam's condition?

Dr. William MTH suggested that Adam might have cutaneous leishmaniasis, a disease caused by a parasitic infection, due to his lesion and travel history in South America.

What is mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, and why was it concerning for Adam?

Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis is a severe form of the disease that affects the soft tissue of the mouth, nose, and throat. It was concerning for Adam because it could be fatal and cause significant disfigurement.

What treatment did Adam receive after his diagnosis, and how did it affect him?

Adam was treated with intravenous amphotericin B, a powerful drug for leishmaniasis, and after 5 days, he began to notice an improvement, including the healing of his throat and reduced swelling.

How did Adam likely contract leishmaniasis?

Adam likely contracted leishmaniasis through bites from sandflies during their time in the Peruvian Amazon, where he was bitten by dozens of sandflies while photographing along a riverbank.

How did Shayen support Adam throughout his ordeal?

Shayen was incredibly supportive throughout Adam’s illness, helping him emotionally and being by his side as he dealt with the disfigurement, pain, and uncertainty during his treatment.