Medical Treatment for a Tapeworm

Taeniasis, or tapeworm infection, generally doesn't cause many obvious symptoms, with intestinal issues such as loss of appetite or blockage often confused for other maladies. However, in some cases, tapeworm infections can be life-threatening, especially if it attacks the nervous system. Tapeworm infection in the U.S. is rare, as food and agricultural regulations have largely eliminated the problem from the food supply.

Diagnosis

• An intestinal infection of tapeworms can be detected from the stool, even with the naked eye, as the worm can either be felt moving, or will leave segments in stool. A doctor can detect egg samples and hidden segments from a stool sample. A neurological infection in either the brain or spine may require a CT or MRI scan to detect.

Intestinal Infection

• Intestinal infections are fairly easy to treat, requiring only an oral dose of praziquantel, and sometimes albendazole and an anti-microbial drug, all of which target adult tapeworms. Eggs, however, are unaffected, requiring careful hygiene in the intermittent period to prevent re-infection. Successful treatment should be confirmed roughly three months down the line with an egg-free stool test.

Cysticercosis

• Invasive tapeworm infections can cause the development of cysts in the eyes, spine or brain. Treatment is dependent on the specific location, but generally includes the use of anti-inflammatory medication to lessen the damage. Albendazole is also used to shrink cysts, along with anti-parasitic medication. However, these are limited to infections in the brain, as they can cause severe inflammations to cysts in the eyes or spinal column. Epileptic medication may be necessary to treat infections that cause seizures.

Surgery

• In some cases, it is necessary to physically remove the cyst by means of surgery, though the necessity is dependent on location and severity of infection. Cysts in the liver, eyes and lungs must be removed, as they can threaten organ function. In some cases of a brain infection, a shunt is necessary to help drain fluid buildup.

Prevention

• The best way to treat tapeworm infection is to avoid it in the first place. As raw meat is the most common tapeworm infection vector, thorough cooking, freezing or pickling of pork, beef and freshwater fishes is necessary. Smoking and drying, however, does not kill cysts. Good hygiene is also a major deterrent--thorough soaping and rinsing of hands before consuming foods and beverages can prevent self-infection.