How to Diagnose a Human Tapeworm

Tapeworms are parasitic worms of the class Cestoda. The adult worms are limited to the intestines because they lack an intestinal tract and absorb nutrients directly through their integument. The larva and encysted forms can infect other parts of the body and are usually considered different diseases. Eight species cause significant infection in humans, with Taenia solium the most common. The following steps will help diagnose tapeworm infections.

Instructions

• 1

  Observe body segments in feces, toilet paper or undergarments in cases of adult infestation. The tapeworms also may cause itching in the rectum as they migrate into the intestines. Once there, however, the infestation is usually asymptomatic.

• 2

  Expect general symptoms of adult infestation to consist of vague abdominal or epigastric pain, anorexia, fatigue, nausea and weight loss.

• 3

  Perform an examination of the stool. Many tapeworms release eggs directly into the stool but do so at irregular intervals so two to three stool samples are usually necessary. Eggs may be absent during a tapeworm infection.

• 4

  Examine the perianal area for tapeworm eggs. This may be done using a cellophane tape swab and detects tapeworm eggs in 85 to 90 percent of patients.

• 5

  Detect signs of infestation of the encysted larva, also known as cysticercosis. The cysts may provoke a local inflammatory response as they grow. The most common presenting symptom of cysticercosis of the nervous system is seizures, which occur in 80 percent of these cases.