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Tapeworm Diseases & Treatment

Parasitic worms, which require a host within which to mature, typically belong to one of three classes: Nematoda, Cestoda or Trematoda. Tapeworms are long, flat and segmented Cestodes. The medical term for tapeworm disease is "Taeniasis."

  1. Types

    • While there are many types of tapeworms, three of them most commonly inhabit the digestive tract of humans: Taenia saginata (cattle tapeworm), Diphyllobothrium latum (fish tapeworm) and Taenia solium (pork tapeworm). Tapeworms can be one inch to more than 30 feet long, and some may survive in the body for over 25 years.

    Disease Process

    • Tapeworm disease is usually the result of poor sanitary conditions, or the consumption of raw or undercooked contaminated food. In humans, adult tapeworms are usually confined to the intestine, where they absorb nutrients from their host. However, the larvae of some tapeworms can form cysts throughout the body, especially the brain.

    Signs and Symptoms

    • Oftentimes, people do not know they have a tapeworm infection until they notice mobile worm segments in their stool, clothing or bedclothes. Tapeworm diseases tend to cause vague symptoms, including: abdominal pain, unintentional weight loss, hunger, fatigue, loss of appetite, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. If larvae form cysts, the condition can be more severe, leading to vision or memory loss as well as seizures.

    Medical Treatment

    • There are several, effective medical treatments for tapeworm disease (Taeniasis). The most common worm-killing medications are: Niclosamide, Praziquantel and Albendazole. Additional treatment may include: vitamin B12 injections, anti-convulsant drugs, corticosteroid drugs or surgery to remove cysts.

    Home Remedies

    • Folk remedies for worm infections include: coconut milk, spiked ginger, aloe vera juice, cloves with every meal, fresh garlic, raw pineapples or a daily cup of grated carrots.

    Prevention

    • Prevention measures include: thoroughly cooking meat and fish before eating; avoiding dishes made with raw fish or meat; and vigorously washing hands with warm water and soap after using the toilet and before handling food. Cooking meats at a minimum of 140 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes can prevent tapeworm disease while freezing them to -4 degrees Fahrenheit for 24 hours kills tapeworm eggs.

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