What Are the Signs & Symptoms of a Tapeworm in a Human?

In June 2009, a Chicago man sued an Illinois restaurant for $100,000. He alleged that the restaurant caused him to become infected with a nine-foot tapeworm when he ate an uncooked seafood salad. According to the Mayo Clinic, many people who are infected with tapeworms don't have any symptoms at all; however, there are times where signs are present. There are several species of tapeworm but the most common are beef tapeworm, pork tapeworm and fish tapeworm.

Considerations

• A tapeworm can cause weight loss, but not because the worm itself is eating a person's food. The weight loss usually comes from the loss of appetite that occurs because of irritation to the bowels. A tapeworm does absorb some digested food through its skin but not enough induce hunger.

  The longer the tapeworm is present in the body, the more discomfort and problems a person is likely to experience. Tapeworms have the potential to grow up to 30 feet long, and as they grow in length they begin to produce more eggs. If these eggs were to travel to other parts of the body such as the brain, the muscles or other organs, severe symptoms could occur.

Severe Symptoms

• A severe tape-worm infection can cause cysticercosis. This infection is triggered by the pork tapeworm. When the tapeworm infection is severe enough, larvae can enter the bloodstream and be distributed to different parts of the body. This can result in mental impairment, headaches and seizures.

Pernicious Anemia

• Fish tapeworms have the ability to cause pernicious anemia. A fish tapeworm absorbs an individual's vitamin B12 and this particular vitamin is needed by the body to produce healthy red blood cells. A lack of healthy red-blood cells can cause a person to feel weak and tired all the time. Anemia that persists can lead to more complicated problems such as nerve damage or problems with the digestive tract.

Treatments

• Fortunately, there are treatments available for individuals infected by a tapeworm. The prescription drug Praziquantel is generally used and will cause the tapeworm to dissolve in the intestines. In severe cases of tapeworm infection (such as cysticercosis), surgery may be needed to remove any cysts that have developed on the organs.

Prevention

• According to the Mayo Clinic, there are preventive measures that people can take against tapeworm infection. This includes washing hands before eating and handling food, thoroughly cooking meat at temperatures of at least 150 degrees Fahrenheit and promptly treating pets that are suffering from tapeworm infections. Most tapeworm infections can be traced back to uncooked meat.