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What Causes Pork Tapeworm?

Pork tapeworm, or Taenia solium, is one common type of tapeworm, along with beef tapeworm, dwarf tapeworm and fish tapeworm. They are parasitic worms that live in the intestine and sometimes cause cysticercosis, a tissue infection, or even neurocysticercosis, a dangerous infection of the brain. There are a number of methods by which tapeworms infect a host.

  1. About

    • An infection of pork or beef tapeworm puts humans at risk of taeniasis, an intestinal infection caused by fully grown tapeworms. Only pork tapeworm in its larval stage causes an infection of cysticercosis. Worms remain in the intestines for as long as 30 years, and the eggs are passed into the environment via human feces. Tapeworm infections are more common in underdeveloped countries that lack proper sanitation and cooking standards.

    Causes

    • Consuming raw or undercooked pork that is infected with tapeworms is the primary cause of the infection. A person contracts an infection by consuming any other food or liquids contaminated with pork tapeworm eggs. Putting something in the mouth that has touched the stool of a person with pork tapeworm also causes the infection, which is a risk for people with poor personal hygiene. An infection happens within eight to 12 weeks, and last years without medical treatment. The worm eggs hatch and the larva migrates throughout the body.

    Risk Factors

    • Those who eat infected pork without properly cooking it are the most at risk of contracting the disease. People with weakened immune systems, such as those suffering from HIV/AIDS infections, recipients of organ transplants or cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy are at an even greater risk of a tapeworm infection.

    Prevention

    • Prevent tapeworm infection by cooking pork to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit using a food thermometer, which kills any tapeworm larvae in the food. It is also prevented by drinking only treated water, boiling water for 1 minute, not swallowing water while swimming, washing hands frequently, and washing, peeling or cooking raw fruits and vegetables before consuming.

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