Tapeworm Infection

 

Overview

Tapeworm infection is caused by ingesting food or water contaminated with tapeworm eggs or larvae. If you ingest certain tapeworm eggs, they can migrate outside your intestines and form larval cysts in body tissues and organs (invasive infection). If you ingest tapeworm larvae, however, they develop into adult tapeworms in your intestines (intestinal infection).

 

An adult tapeworm consists of a head, neck and chain of segments called proglottids. When you have an intestinal tapeworm infection, the tapeworm head adheres to the intestinal wall, and the proglottids grow and produce eggs. Adult tapeworms can live for up to 30 years in a host.

 

Intestinal tapeworm infections are usually mild, with only one or two adult tapeworms. But invasive larval infections can cause serious complications

 

Symptoms

Many people with intestinal tapeworm infection don't have symptoms. If you do have problems from the infection, your symptoms will depend on the type of tapeworm you have and its location. Invasive tapeworm infection symptoms vary depending on where the larvae have migrated.

 

Intestinal infection

Signs and symptoms of intestinal infection include:

 

Nausea

Weakness

Loss of appetite

Abdominal pain

Diarrhea

Dizziness

Salt craving

Weight loss and inadequate absorption of nutrients from food

 

Invasive infection

If tapeworm larvae have migrated out of your intestines and formed cysts in other tissues, they can eventually cause organ and tissue damage, resulting in:

 

Headaches

Cystic masses or lumps

Allergic reactions to the larvae

Neurological signs and symptoms, including seizures

 

When to see a doctor

If you experience any of the signs or symptoms of tapeworm infection, seek medical attention.

 

 

 

Ingestion of eggs.   If you eat food or drink water contaminated with feces from a person or animal with tapeworm, you ingest microscopic tapeworm eggs. For example, a dog infected with a tapeworm will pass tapeworm eggs in its feces, which get into the soil.

 

If this same soil comes in contact with a food or water source, it becomes contaminated. You can then be infected when you eat or drink something from the contaminated source.

 

Once inside your intestines, the eggs develop into larvae. At this stage, the larvae become mobile. If they migrate out of your intestines, they form a cyst in the liver or other tissues.

 

Ingestion of larvae cysts in meat or muscle tissue. When an animal has a tapeworm infection, it has tapeworm larvae in its muscle tissue. If you eat raw or undercooked meat from an infected animal, you ingest the larvae, which then develop into adult tapeworms in your intestines.

 

Adult tapeworms can measure more than 80 feet (25 meters) long and can survive as long as 30 years in a host. Some tapeworms attach themselves to the walls of the intestines, where they cause irritation or mild inflammation, while others may pass through to your stool and exit your body.

 

Risk factors

Factors that may put you at greater risk of tapeworm infection include:

 

Poor hygiene. Infrequent washing and bathing increases the risk of accidental transfer of contaminated matter to your mouth.

Exposure to livestock. This is especially problematic in areas where human and animal feces are not disposed of properly.

Traveling to developing countries. Infection occurs more frequently in areas with poor sanitation practices.

Eating raw or undercooked meats. Improper cooking may fail to kill tapeworm eggs and larvae contained in contaminated pork or beef.

Living in endemic areas. In certain parts of the world, exposure to tapeworm eggs is more likely. For instance, your risk of coming into contact with eggs of the pork tapeworm (Taenia solium) is greater in areas of Latin America, China, sub-Saharan Africa or Southeast Asia where free-range pigs may be more common.

Complications

Intestinal tapeworm infections usually don't cause complications. If complications do occur, they may include:

 

Digestive blockage. If tapeworms grow large enough, they can block your appendix, leading to infection (appendicitis); your bile ducts, which carry bile from your liver and gallbladder to your intestine; or your pancreatic duct, which carries digestive fluids from your pancreas to your intestine.

Brain and central nervous system impairment. Called neurocysticercosis (noor-o-sis-tih-sur-KOE-sis), this especially dangerous complication of invasive pork tapeworm infection can result in headaches and visual impairment, as well as seizures, meningitis, hydrocephalus or dementia. Death can occur in severe cases of infection.

Organ function disruption. When larvae migrate to the liver, lungs or other organs, they become cysts. Over time, these cysts grow, sometimes large enough to crowd the functioning parts of the organ or reduce its blood supply. Tapeworm cysts sometimes rupture, releasing more larvae, which can move to other organs and form additional cysts.

 

A ruptured or leaking cyst can cause an allergy-like reaction, with itching, hives, swelling and difficulty breathing. Surgery or organ transplantation may be needed in severe cases.

 

Prevention

To prevent tapeworm infection:

 

Wash your hands with soap and water before eating or handling food and after using the toilet.

When traveling in areas where tapeworm is more common, wash and cook all fruits and vegetables with safe water before eating. If water might not be safe, be sure to boil it for at least a minute and then let it cool off before using it.

Eliminate livestock exposure to tapeworm eggs by properly disposing of animal and human feces.

Thoroughly cook meat at temperatures of at least 145 F (63 C) to kill tapeworm eggs or larvae.

Freeze meat for as long as seven to 10 days and fish for at least 24 hours in a freezer with a temperature of -31 F (-35 C) to kill tapeworm eggs and larvae.

y treat dogs infected with tapeworm

Avoid eating raw or undercooked pork, beef and fish.

 Jan Ricks Jennings, MHA, LFACHE

Jan.Jennings@EagleTalons.com

 

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