Tapeworm infection
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Tapeworm infection is the infection of the digestive tract by parasitic flatworms or cestoda. Tapeworm larvae or cysts are ingested by consuming undercooked, raw or contaminated food and water. Once inside the digestive tract, the larvae grows into an adult tapeworm, which can live for years and grow very large.
Classifications
There are six types of tapeworms: pork, beef, fish, rodent, dog, and dwarf.
Pork tapeworm is commonly found in Latin America, India, China, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe. It is not common in the United States. Inside the intestine, this worm can grow up to 21 feet in length.
Freshwater fish tapeworm is found in Europe, North and South America, Japan, and Southern parts of Africa. Beef tapeworm is found anywhere there is cattle farming. Both fish and beef tapeworms can grow up to 25 feet in length.
Rodent and dog tapeworms infect humans through intermediate carriers such as insects, that introduce the cyst to human's food chain. Dwarf tapeworms are native to human being, and is passed to another person through eating food contaminated with infected feces. These tapeworms are relatively small, and can grow between 6 to 24 inches in length.
Symptoms
The symptoms of tapeworm infection include:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Abdominal discomfort
- Hunger
- Malnutrition
- Fatigue
Diagnosis
Signs of tapeworm infection include:
- Macrocytic, megaloblastic anemia or enlarged, pale red blood cell
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Presence of segments in feces
Treatment
Prescribed antihelminthic medications include niclosamide (for T. saginata tapeworm) and praziquantel (for Hymenolepsis species). If vitamin B12 deficiency is diagnosed, then a vitamin B12 supplement is also prescribed.
Prognosis
The cure rate for tapeworm infection using antihelminthics is about 95%.
External Links
- Tapeworm Infestation - by eMedicine
- Tapeworm Infection - Health in Plain English (with pictures)