Tapeworm parasitic disease, also called Taeniasis, occurs when humans are infected with the adult tapeworm. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that people become infected by accidentally eating tapeworm eggs, which then grow to an adult tapeworm in the person's intestines. A tapeworm can live in a human for several years and can grow to more than 12 feet long. According to the National Institutes of Health, tapeworm is a parasite found in communities all over the world and comes in two varieties. One type is most commonly found in pigs, while the other is most commonly found in cattle.
Symptoms
According to the National Institutes of Health, the most frequently noticed symptom of Taeniasis is small pieces of the long tapeworm in the stool. Segments are short and white and are most noticeable when they move or wiggle in the stool. The Mayo Clinic reports that some patients notice nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss and malabsorption of nutrients from food.
Becoming Infected
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that people become infected with a tapeworm by eating raw or undercooked meat from infected animals. Animals, like pigs or cows, can ingest tapeworm eggs in feces found in the environment. For example, these animals could eat contaminated grass while grazing in a pasture. As the tapeworm grows, the parasite moves from the animal's digestive system to its muscle, which humans may then eat. Humans also become infected by living in close contact with pigs and cattle, or by improperly washing hands.
Diagnosis
According to the Mayo Clinic, a healthcare provider may order two lab tests to diagnose tapeworm parasitic disease. With a stool exam, a stool sample is viewed under a microscope for eggs or sections of the tapeworm body. A complete blood count is a blood test that detects antibodies in the blood to tapeworm infection. Once a diagnosis of tapeworm parasitic infection is made, a healthcare provider can recommend a course of treatment for the infection.
Complications
According to the National Institutes of Health, an infected person can have nutritional deficiencies and anemia from small amounts of bleeding in the gut. More serious but rare complications are blockages in the intestines and the worm moving into the brain. Tapeworm infection in the brain can cause brain damage, problems with the nervous system and seizures.
Treatment
The Mayo Clinic reports tapeworm infection is often treated with anti-parasitic medication, such as praziquantel or abendazole, as prescribed by a healthcare provider. Treatment is effective and infection goes away after completing the treatment course. After completing treatment, stool samples are rechecked to ensure the patient's stool is tapeworm-free.
Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend two effective ways to prevent Taeniasis. Good hand washing prevents tapeworm parasitic disease by eliminating tapeworm eggs taking a ride on the hands. Avoiding raw meat and cooking food well can kill any tapeworms or eggs lurking in food. The National Institutes of Health recommend cooking food to 140 degrees Fahrenheit for five minutes or more.
