Tapeworms

Tapeworms are segmented worms which belong to a class of animals called cestoda (plural: cestodes). Animals get infected with these parasites by drinking contaminated water. Tapeworms usually live in the intestines of these animals. Humans get infected by eating undercooked infected pork, beef or fish.

There are different species of tapeworms that can infect human beings:

• Taenia solium
• Taenia saginata
• Diphyllobothrium species
• Hymenolepis species
• Dipylidium caninum
• Echinococcus

In most cestode infestations, humans are the primary hosts and adult worms live in their intestinal tract. If humans are intermediate hosts then the larvae migrate to other organs.

Tapeworms Symptoms:

 Tapeworm infection is asymptomatic most of the time. Symptoms depend upon the type of tapeworm infection. Even if symptoms are visible, it mostly would be related to the digestive tract:

• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite or increase of appetite
• Diarrhea

It can cause vitamin B12 deficiency by decreasing absorption.

Sometimes, certain tapeworms can migrate to different parts of the body causing damage to the eyes, brain (neurocysticercosis), liver (hydatid cyst), large or small intestines and appendix.

Diagnosis:

There are various methods of diagnosing a tapeworm infection:

• Stool examination to detect parasites and ova
• Blood tests to find antibodies that are produced against tapeworms
• Perianal area swab

Serious conditions require:

• CT scan
• MRI
• Ultrasound

Immunological studies like complement fixation, hemagglutination, radioimmunoassay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblotting can be used for the detection of anti-cysticercus antibodies in serum, cerebrospinal fluid and saliva.

Treatment:

The type of treatment and the duration of treatment depend upon the type of tapeworm infection. Most infections can be treated with a prescribed dosage of niclosamide or prizaquantel. Some neurological problems like neurocystcercosis can also be treated with a prescribed dosage of anti-helmithic and anti-epileptic drugs.

Albendazole, mebendazole (MBZ) and paromomycin are also used for the treatment of tapeworm infestation. Some cestode infections need surgical intervention for patients with hydrocephalus, ventricular shunt dysfunction and hydatid liver disease. The surgery can be an open surgery or a laparoscopic surgery.

A stool examination would be recommended by the doctor one month after and three months after the treatment.

Below are certain preventive measures:

• Meat like pork and beef should be cooked thoroughly
• Avoid eating raw fish and meat
• Hand hygiene is most important
• Meat must be frozen at -4 o F for 24 hours, it helps kill worms