Facts About Tapeworms: Causes, Prevention, and Treatment

A tapeworm infection usually happens as a result of eating food or drinking water that is contaminated with tapeworm eggs or larvae. Tapeworm infections happen in humans in one of two ways; either the eggs are unknowingly ingested, or the larvae are unknowingly ingested.

There are several common species of tapeworms that can cause infections in humans. Some species include the pork tapeworm, the beef tapeworm, the dwarf tapeworm, and the fish tapeworm. An adult tapeworm can be up to 50 feet long and live for up to 20 years. Some tapeworms will attach themselves to the walls of a person's intestines, causing irritation and mild swelling while other tapeworms will pass through stool and leave the body. The dwarf tapeworm is the only tapeworm that can survive from egg to adult in one host. This is the most common tapeworm infection and it can be passed from person to person.

Unknowingly tapeworm eggs and larvae can be passed through food, water, or soil that has infected feces. We commonly eat pork, beef, and fish which can be infected and we may never know it. The most common way that tapeworm larvae are passed is through meat and muscle tissue. To help prevent tapeworm infection, it is recommended that we always cook meat thoroughly and practice good hygiene.

Most people that are infected with tapeworms never even know it, according to

In more serious cases; those in which the tapeworm has moved out of the intestines to invade other body tissues, a person is more likely to display symptoms. These symptoms include, fever, the presence of cysts, masses, or lumps on the body, an allergic reaction to the tapeworm larvae, bacterial infections, and/or neurological symptoms and/or seizures in cases where the brain is infected. An invasive tapeworm infection can cause serious organ and tissue damage.

Certain things can cause a person to be at a higher risk of becoming infected with tapeworms. Poor hygiene practices, exposure to livestock and improperly disposed of feces, frequently traveling to other countries, and eating raw or undercooked meat are all things that increase a person's risk. At becoming infected.

If you become exposed to infected food or water, or you begin to display any of the signs or symptoms, you should visit your doctor. It is possible that you can see parts of adult tapeworms in your own stool, but chances are that your doctor will want to have a sample tested in the lab for proper diagnosis. Sometimes, it takes two or more stool samples before the tapeworm can be detected. It is common for doctors to also check your blood for tissue invading tapeworms, at times, a CT scan or MRI may also be performed.

Complications from tapeworm infections vary as to the species of tapeworm that has caused the infection. According to

Oral medications are used to kill tapeworms. These medications are not well-absorbed by a person's digestive system, but are toxic tapeworms, The medication that is prescribed varies as to the species of tapeworm that has caused the infection. The medication is targeted at the adult tapeworms, not the eggs. Practicing good hand washing techniques is a vital part of preventing re-infection.

Samples of stool are taken during and after treatment, for up to three months or more, depending on the particular species of tapeworm. Your stool is checked for any evidence of tapeworm eggs, larvae, or adults. When treated properly, the success rate is over 95% for getting rid of tapeworms.

In addition to tapeworm killing medication, if the tapeworm has migrated outside of the intestine, you may be given an anti-inflammatory steroid to help reduce any swelling due to cysts. At times, surgery may be needed to remove cysts that have grown in your liver, lungs, or other organs. In some, serious cases, organ transplantation may be the only choice.

Like most infections, the best defense is prevention. Washing your hands thoroughly and often, before eating, after using the restroom, and before and after handling food can help. Other things that can help are to wash and cook all fruits and vegetables in safe water before eating them when traveling, eliminate livestock exposure by properly disposing of both animal and human feces. Cook all meat to a core temperature of 150 degrees Fahrenheit (66 degrees Celsius) to kill off any tapeworm eggs or larvae that may be present. Avoid eating any raw or undercooked pork, beef, or fish. If your dog is infected, treat the animal immediately to avoid becoming infected yourself.

If you think that you may have been exposed to tapeworms, or you begin to show any signs or symptoms, do not hesitate to visit your doctor. Be sure to take all medications as prescribed for the entire treatment duration to effectively kill all tapeworms. Prevent re-infecting yourself or infecting others by practicing good hygiene and preventative measures.http://www.mayoclinic.com. These people are likely to have an infection in their intestines. If there are any symptoms present at all, they may experience things such as nausea, weakness, a loss of appetite, pain in the abdominal area, diarrhea, and weight loss due to inadequate absorption of nutrients from the food they eat. These symptoms are rare, if present at all. http://www.mayoclinic.com, the beef tapeworm is usually not harmful because it only lives in the intestines and can easily be treated. Pork tapeworms can easily migrate to other body tissues and form slow growing cysts that may disrupt normal organ or tissue functions, cause a secondary infection in the organ or tissue, or even cause the organ or tissue to rupture. Pork tapeworms can also affect the brain and central nervous system of the body. This type of infection is extremely dangerous and can result in headaches, problems with vision, seizures, dementia, and even death. In addition to pork tapeworms, sheep tapeworms and dog tapeworms can also cause serious problems for humans. These tapeworms can migrate to other body organs, most commonly the liver. They cause large cysts to develop, creating pressure on nearby blood vessels. This can cause a lack of circulation to that area or even cause the blood vessels to burst. When the liver is infected, surgery or liver transplantation may be necessary.