Tapeworm Infection
Tapeworms are parasitic, flat, segmented worms that live in the gastrointestinal tract of certain animals and humans. The most common means of transmission of tapeworms to humans is through ingestion of undercooked meat from infected animals. The infection can occur in animals that graze, or drink contaminated water. Most often, tapeworms in humans are easily treated with medication. Left untreated, however, they can cause serious, even life-threatening symptoms.
Sources of Tapeworm Infection
While tapeworms can only produce eggs in their adult stage, each segment of a tapeworm is capable of producing eggs. These eggs, or the larvae they grow into, can be spread in uncooked or undercooked beef, pork, lamb or fish. The disease can also be transmitted by food contaminated by food handlers who have the condition and do not observe proper hygiene procedures.
Tapeworm eggs are passed in feces, so it is extremely important that all food handlers wash their hands thoroughly after they move their bowels and before coming into contact with any food products.
Symptoms of Tapeworm Infection
Frequently, patients with tapeworms are asymptomatic and so are unaware that they have the disorder. Therefore the disease can be passed unwittingly to other people. In the human intestinal tract, once the tapeworm larvae develop into adult tapeworms, they can grow as long as 12 feet and can live for several years. Some patients discover that they have tapeworms by observing worm segments, possibly moving, in their stool.
When patients experience symptoms from tapeworms, the most common one is abdominal discomfort. Other possible symptoms include:
- Nausea
- Weakness or fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Hunger or appetite loss
- Weight loss
- Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
Although rare, untreated tapeworms can result in dangerous complications, including intestinal blockage. It is also possible for tapeworm eggs to migrate to the eyes, heart, liver, or brain, forming cysts in other tissues and becoming life-threatening. In some cases, patients can also experience severe allergic reactions to the tapeworm larvae.
Diagnosis of Tapeworm Infection
Normally, tapeworms are diagnosed by microscopic examination of the stool for eggs or bodies of the worms. This examination will help to differentiate tapeworms from other types of parasites that may cause similar infections. A complete blood count, including a differential count, may also be performed. In some cases, a CT or MRI scan may also be performed to detect any damage in the gastrointestinal tract.
Treatment for Tapeworm Infection
Tapeworms are usually treated with one dose of a medication called praziquantel. Another medication, niclosamide may also be used. Once the tapeworms have been killed, they are passed out of the patient's body in the stool. Patients must be retested for tapeworms twice after treatment, at 1 month and then 3 months after medication has been administered. Assuming the tapeworm infection is limited to the intestines, 95 percent of patients are cured by this single treatment.
When more serious invasive tapeworm infection is present, treatment varies according to the location of the infection. Possible treatments include medications, anti-inflammatory or anti-epileptic therapy, shunt placement, drainage or surgery.
