Tapeworms: Everything You Never Really Wanted to Know

Tapeworms are a common parasite according to MedIndia that lives in the digestive tracts of vertebrates, and if you are reading this, you are a vertebrate. They start out as juveniles called matecestode, which are cyst like growths that live in tissues and organs before growing into an adult tapeworm and moving to the digestive tract. Usually tapeworm infection is identified not by visual observation, but by recognizing eggs called proglottids in the patient's stool.

Tapeworms have sharp hooks on one side that are used to fix themselves in the intestinal wall of the host. The body of a tapeworm is made up of segments or proglottids. Each proglottid contains both male and female reproductive abilities, when the proglottid is mature it is released into the feces and expelled from the host; this is the tapeworm's means of reproduction. Animals such as cows can have tapeworms, where the eggs can develop, and in turn, people consume the beef, and then people consume the tapeworm's "eggs". Tapeworms are one of the many reasons proper preparation of meats are so important. Humans most commonly get tapeworm infections from pork, beef, and fish. However, infection in humans is most often in areas with insufficient sanitation. Tapeworms can grow to be over twenty-five feet long, which is not uncommon in cows. Tapeworms are always present where livestock is being raised. Proper cooking of meat is extremely important to avoid tapeworm infection.

Common symptoms of tapeworm infection according to Medindia,are nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, hunger and fatigue. Your body is hungry even after you have eaten because the tapeworm is taking the nutrients from the food you are eating. This is also the main reason for fatigue. Once tapeworms have been diagnosed, a doctor will prescribe antihelminthics, which are usually administered by injection or oral medication. The tapeworm segments usually start to shed into the persons stool within forty-eight hours of treatment. Usually after the antihelminthics are completed a doctor will also prescribe a mild laxative to help purge any remaining tapeworm segments from the intestines. It is advised that after three months the patient's stool should again be tested for tapeworms, and if none are found, the patient is cured.

Pets are often infected with tapeworms by something as simple as eating a flea. While tapeworms won't kill a person or their pet, they can become very unpleasant and you can find signs of them in your pets bedding. It is often advised that people have their veterinarian check their pets stool for tapeworm proglottids twice a year. While adults rarely get infected with tapeworms, children are more susceptible to infection. So if you want to avoid tapeworm infection remember to cook all meats properly, and have your pets checked for tapeworms by your vet twice yearly.

Ms.Sangamitra M.Sc /Introduction to Tapeworm Infections / Medindia