Symptoms of a Beef Tapeworm

Beef tapeworm infections result from eating beef that has been contaminated by tapeworm eggs or larvae. Many people do not experience any unusual symptoms when infected with a tapeworm. You can find indications of infection, however, if you know what to look for.

Larval Tapeworm Infection

• A larva will cause different symptoms than an adult tapeworm because it can travel through the blood vessels to different locations in the body. Symptoms include abdominal pain, fever, lung pain, coughing, jaundice, seizures, sensations of pressure in the head and even blindness.

Adult Tapeworm Infection

• When symptoms are experienced, they include inability to absorb nutrients, weakness, stomach pain, nausea, unexplained weight loss, diarrhea and lack of appetite. Infected people may also notice worm segments or eggs in their stools.

Long-term Infection

• People who have been infected with a tapeworm for a long time can exhibit more severe symptoms. These include cyst formation, lumps, vitamin deficiencies, high fever, seizures, inflammation of the intestine, dizziness and bacterial infections.

Treatment

• Your doctor can easily treat your tapeworm infection with an anti-parasitic drug, which will kill the tapeworm. He can also also prescribe corticosteroids and more anti-parasitic drugs in order to treat cysts and other damage caused by the worm.

Fun Fact

• According to the medical website Merck.com, tapeworms can grow up to 30 feet long.