Tapeworm

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KEY POINTS

• Tapeworms are flat worms that live in your intestines and can spread to other parts of the body.
• Tapeworms can be treated with medicine, or in severe cases with surgery.
• You can help prevent tapeworms by washing your hands before preparing or eating food, and cooking all meat and fish thoroughly.

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What are tapeworms?

Tapeworms are flat worms that live in the intestines of some cows, pigs, and fish. Tapeworms can be spread by eating raw or undercooked beef or pork or drinking water that is infected with tapeworms. A tapeworm infection in the intestines is called taeniasis.

Young tapeworms (larva) can move out of the intestines and into the muscles, liver, heart, and brain. If this happens, it is called cysticercosis and can be life-threatening.

What is the cause?

You get infected with tapeworms when you swallow tapeworm eggs.

• If a cow or pig swallows food or water that is infected with tapeworms, the animal can get infected. If you eat undercooked or raw infected pork or beef, you swallow the eggs. The eggs in your intestines develop into adult tapeworms. If the tapeworms grow large enough, they may block organs and ducts in your digestive system. If you have an adult tapeworm in your intestines, you pass eggs in bowel movements.
• If you touch your mouth with your hands or prepare food after you touch bowel movements that have tapeworm eggs on them, you may swallow the eggs.

You have a higher risk of getting infected if you live with someone who has a tapeworm.

Young tapeworms may develop from eggs in the intestines and spread to muscles, skin, eyes, central nervous system, and brain. What causes this to happen is not always known.

What are the symptoms?

Most people with taeniasis have no symptoms. Symptoms may start 6 to 8 weeks after you are infected and may include:

• Stomach pain
• Nausea
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Loss of appetite
• Feeling very tired or weak

Tapeworms can live for many years until you get treatment.

If you have cystericosis, symptoms may include:

• Blindness
• Not being able to remember, think things through, or make decisions
• Not knowing who or where you are or what time, date, or day it is
• Headaches
• Seizures
• Small bumps under the skin

How is it diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms and medical history and examine you. Tests may include:

• Blood tests
• Stool tests (test of a sample of your bowel movements)
• MRI, which uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to show detailed pictures of your brain
• CT scan, which uses X-rays and a computer to show detailed pictures of your brain and skull

How is it treated?

Taeniasis is treated with medicine you take by mouth.

Cysticercosis is harder to treat. You may need to take several kinds of medicine, depending on your symptoms. Sometimes surgery may be needed.

How can I take care of myself?

Be sure that everyone is washing their hands before eating and after using the bathroom. When you start treatment, wash sheets, towels, clothes, and anything else that might have eggs or worms on it in hot water. Also change your underwear every day.

How can I help prevent tapeworm infection?

• Wash your hands and clean any dishes or utensils before you prepare, cook, serve, or eat food. Keep kitchen surfaces clean. Replace used dishcloths and kitchen towels with clean ones often.
• Freeze meat for at least 12 hours and fish for at least 24 hours to kill eggs and young tapeworms.
• Cook beef, pork, and fish thoroughly to an internal temperature of at least 160°F (71°C). Avoid sushi, sashimi, and ceviche.
• Wash, peel, or cook raw fruits and vegetables before eating them.
• If you take care of young children, wash your hands often and dispose of diapers carefully so that worms can't spread to other people.
• When you travel to places where contamination is more likely, eat only hot, freshly cooked food. Don't eat raw vegetables or unpeeled fruit. Drink only bottled water and liquids. Avoid tap water and ice, or boil water before drinking it.
• Tell others who may have been exposed to tapeworms (such as household members, sex partners, and day care contacts) that they may need to be tested.