How to Avoid and Treat Tapeworms

Although you usually think of tapeworms attacking animals, human beings can also be invaded. Parasite worms that live in the intestinal tracts of some animals, tapeworms can also infect human beings of all ages. But, relax as humans rarely contact tapeworms, but when they do, at first it can be devastating, just knowing you have worms living inside of your body. If you saw a jar full of tapeworks, you may not want to eat spaghetti, again, as they look like miles of thin white spaghetti.

Causes of Tapeworms

The most common way you can get tapeworms is by eating raw meat, so be careful that your meat is thoroughly cooked before ingesting it. What's more, make sure any meat or fish you buy is from a dependable source. Make sure to freeze fish for at least 24 hours to ensure killing the larva form of tapeworms, as well as cook it thoroughly. In addition, cook pork and all red meat until it's well-done.

When traveling overseas, it's especially risky to contact tapeworms if you're not extremely careful about what you eat. Be especially cautious when visiting third world and developing countries.

You can also contract tapeworms by swallowing a flea, so be careful when grooming your pets. Treat your pets regularly for fleas (especially during warm months.) Then, vacuum all areas where your pets live. It's also advantageous to not leave your pets in kennel runs as there's more danger of them contacting tapeworms.

Also, be diligent to wash your hands often when in public or when handling anything outdoors, making sure your fingernails are clean at all times, as this is a breeding area for tapeworms. Amazingly, some tapeworms lay as many as 1,000,000 eggs daily, and can easily live under your fingernails.

Unfortunately, some small children pick up tapeworms when playing in the dirt or with their pets outside. They then transport the worm to toys, which others can contact through their fingernails. In other words, make sure your hands and fingernails are clean, especially when you're around pets and children playing outdoors.

Symptoms and Diagnosis of Tapeworms

Although often you don't feel any symptoms, some people (especially those with fishing tapeworms) experience fatigue, diarrhea, and/or nausea. Tapeworms are diagnosed through identifying segments or eggs in stool samples. Also, a tentative diagnosis can be done on a patient's observation of pieces of the worm in their stool. However, stool examinations should be done with three samples collected on alternate days.

Treatment for Tapeworms

If you suspect you or your child has tapeworms, call your doctor immediately. Treatment for tapeworms can be found by taking a prescription drug such as praziquantel or albendazole (taken orally by humans, but by injection for pets.) Once the medication is taken, the tapeworm breaks up and dies within the intestines.

If you do have tapeworms, relax. By treating the problem and taking pains to do everything not to get it, again, you'll be fine and live a normal life.