Tapeworm Conditions & Treatment

Tapeworm is an intestinal infection caused from eating undercooked meat. There are six types of tapeworm that infect humans frequently. Taenia solium which is the pork type, Taenia saginata, the beef form, and Diphyllobothrium latum, the fish species, are the largest. They may range in size from 25m to 10m in length. The smaller versions are Hymenolepis nana, also called the "dwarf," Hymenolepis diminuta, the rodent tapeworm, and Dipylidium caninum, the dog tapeworm. The small versions average 25mm to 70cc in size. Rodent, dog, dwarf and fish tapeworms are the most common forms diagnosed in the United States.

Symptoms

• In most cases, symptoms are not apparent, especially in the dwarf, rodent and dog types. On rare occasions, Taenia solium, Taenia saginata and Diphyllobothrium latum may cause nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, dizziness and hunger.

Treatment

• When Praziquantel is administered in single doses, it is the most common form of treatment and is 99 percent effective. However, Praziquantel does not kill eggs from tapeworm. In many cases, a mild laxative may be prescribed to eliminate eggs. Moreover, if new eggs hatch, cysticercosis may develop.

Complications

• Cysticercosis is diagnosed in those with past intestinal tapeworm infection. It is a larval infection. It is estimated that nearly 20 million people a year are diagnosed with cysticercosis and an estimated 50,000 deaths occur yearly. Diagnosis of cysticercosis includes a history of Taenia solium, concomitant or previous intestinal tapeworm contamination and is often characterized by headaches and seizures. The incubation period is usually one to five years.

Cysticercosis Staging

• Cysts develops in different stages and in different parts of the human anatomy. Cysticercotic encephalitis stage is rare and occurs shortly after cysticerci have developed in the brain. A fever coupled with a headache are the chief complaints. The parenchymal cysts stage multiplies and scatters. Symptoms are characterized by headache, vomiting, neurological deficits and intracranial hypertension.

Treatment

• Prevention of tapeworm can be greatly reduced by properly cooking meat to temperatures at or above 165 degrees F or 65 degrees C. Fish should be cooked and not eaten raw, as with sushi. Freezing for long durations may decrease the likelihood of contamination. Additionally, washing hands after and before meals will reduce the spread of tapeworm.

Diagnosis

• Tapeworm can sometimes be seen in stool. Eggs from tapeworm can been detected in a laboratory setting under microscopic view. Diagnosis of Cysticercosis is determined by cat scan (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Additionally, an immunologic text may be performed. However, immunologic testing is only helpful when live cyst are present.