The tapeworm (or taenia) is a parasite that leads to taeniasis, a parasitic infection.
The types of taenia that can be found in the human gut are:
- Taenia saginata (bovine tapeworm),
- Taenia solium (porcine tapeworm),
- Taenia asiatica (Asian tapeworm).
Infection by a tapeworm occurs by swallowing food contaminated with the eggs or larvae of the tapeworm.
If some tapeworm eggs are swallowed, they can:
- migrate from the intestine,
- Cysts form in tissues and organs (invasive infection called cysticercosis).
The larvae of the tapeworm grow up in the intestine (intestinal infection).
In general, intestinal infections caused by a tapeworm are of little importance, but the invasive infections caused by larvae can lead to serious complications.
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Where does the tapeworm occur?
The tapeworm enters the body by eating raw or little-cooked meat of infected animals.
The bovine tapeworm infects:
- Cows
- Bulls
- Cattle
- Bullocks.
Pigs are carriers of Taenia solium (pork tapeworm).
What is a tapeworm?
The tapeworm is a parasite or cestode that lives in the intestinal tract of a person.
Parasites are organisms that live in or on other organisms (so-called “hosts”).
Parasites get their nutrients from the host, sometimes depriving the host of food that it needs to live.
The tapeworm enters the body when a person eats or drinks something that before:
- from a tapeworm
- or his eggs have been infected.
Once inside the body, the head of the tapeworm attaches itself to the inner intestinal wall.
The tapeworm consists of different segments and forms others as it grows.
Each segment can reproduce the tapeworm, because it produces thousands of eggs. Since tapeworms can have more than a thousand segments, they can spread easily.
Lifespan of the tapeworm
The tapeworm has a life cycle of three stages:
- Egg;
- immaturity stage, in which the tapeworm is called a larva (cysticercus);
- Adult phase in which the parasite (cestoda) can produce eggs.
Since the larvae can get into the muscles of the host, infection can take place when raw meat or undercooked meat from infected animals is eaten.
The tapeworm can:
- up to 20 years old,
- will be very long, up to 10 meters, even if the record is 22 meters.
Causes of tapeworms
Usually, a tapeworm infection occurs when eating raw and contaminated meat from:
- Pig
- Cattle
- Freshwater fish.
Not all tapeworms are obtained in the same way.
The causes of the different types of tapeworm infections are shown below.
Tapeworm of pig and cattle
Infection with the tapeworm of pig or beef can occur by eating raw or little-cooked meat from these animals, which contain the larvae of the tapeworm (newly hatched worms).
The larvae grow into adult worms in the intestine.
With pork tapeworm you can:
- swallow eggs contaminated with faeces contained in food or water;
- transfer the eggs to the mouth after coming into contact with an infected person or contaminated clothing.
The eggs then develop into larvae inside the body and invade other areas such as muscles and brain.
A pork or bovine tapeworm is more likely to be found in developing areas such as:
- Africa
- Middle East
- South-East Asia,
- South America.
Fish tapeworm (Diphyllobothrium)
Infection with the fish tapeworm can be caused by raw or undercooked freshwater fish, such as salmon.
The fish tapeworm is more common in countries where raw fish is usually eaten, such as:
- Scandinavian countries,
- the Netherlands,
- Japan.
Dwarf tapeworm (Hymenolepis nana)
The eggs of the dwarf tapeworm can be transmitted from one person to another due to lack of hygiene. You can also reinfect yourself due to poor hygienic conditions.
The larvae can hatch from the eggs, grow into adult tapeworms (they grow up to 4 centimeters long) and reproduce in the intestine without ever leaving the digestive tract.
The average age of an adult dwarf tapeworm is 4-6 weeks, but self-infection guarantees the parasite a longer stay in the host.
As a rule, the dwarf tapeworm affects children rather than adults.
It also often occurs where people live in unsanitary conditions, especially when animals are present, such as:
- Fleas
- Cockroaches
- or rats.
These are the carriers of the dwarf tapeworm.
Dog tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum)
This type of tapeworm is a parasitic worm of:
- canids (dogs, foxes, wolves, etc.),
- Cats (e.g. domestic cat).
Rarely, people are infected with the dog tapeworm. This infection is called cystic echinococcosis.
Children may accidentally swallow the eggs of the dog tapeworm after touching dog feces or having close physical contact with dogs.
The dog tapeworm is more common in rural areas, especially where grazing is practiced.
How is the tapeworm transmitted?
Tapeworms spread as follows:
- The tapeworm can spread by eating food (meat or fish that has not been cooked enough to kill the tapeworm and its eggs) or drinking contaminated water.
Therefore, where good sanitation and hygienic facilities are available, tapeworm infections are rare
toilets, sewage and water treatment help to keep faeces away from water sources and food. - The tapeworm can be contagious because a person can transmit the tapeworm’s eggs to others if hands are not washed after going to the toilet.
The tapeworm eggs in the stool can be easily spread through food or through surfaces such as doorknobs.
Symptoms of tapeworm infection
In general, people are not aware that they have a tapeworm infection.
It is possible that no symptoms are felt.
Symptoms of tapeworm infection in humans
In case of infection with an adult tapeworm, in the stool you can:
- Larvae
- or tapeworm segments.
The tapeworm segments contain the tapeworm eggs.
Depending on the type of tapeworm, other symptoms may occur, such as:
- Stomach pain or abdominal pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Vertigo
- Insomnia
- Cramps
- Malnutrition
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- itching
Infection with pork tapeworm can lead to increased appetite.
In rare cases, infection with the fish tapeworm can cause a deficiency of vitamin B12 because the tapeworm absorbs this substance.
Vitamin B12 helps in the formation of red blood cells. Therefore, a vitamin deficiency can lead to anemia.
Symptoms of infection with tapeworm larvae (cysticercosis)
Some tapeworm species cannot grow in the intestine. Instead, their larvae bore through the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream. They can therefore get into other body organs.
Symptoms of infection with tapeworm larvae depend on the type of parasite, its severity and the affected area of the body.
The larvae can affect the following areas of the body:
- Brain
- Spinal cord
- Brawn
- Subcutaneous tissue
- Eyes
Possible symptoms include:
- Discomfort or pain in the abdomen
- Vomit
- Headache
- Fever
- Jaundice (jaundice)
- Seizures
Risks from a tapeworm
The tapeworm feeds on food consumed by the host and uses these substances for its growth.
The tapeworm can cause 4 to 5 kilograms of weight loss per month, but it cannot be used as a slimming product.
As a result, in some cases, it can lead to malnutrition and even death if left untreated.
Diagnosis of tapeworm
The diagnosis of tapeworm infection is made by a stool sample.
Those affected should describe to the doctor whether they have observed segments (white, snake-like material) ejected in the stool.
The stool samples must be taken on three different days and examined in a laboratory to determine whether eggs of the tapeworm or other worms, such as oxyurs, are present.
The tapeworm eggs can be detected in the stool 2-3 months after the onset of tapeworm infection.
Blood tests are done to confirm an infection caused by tapeworm infestation. They are used to detect antibodies against the tapeworm.
Therapy for tapeworm
Some people with a tapeworm infection don’t need treatment because the tapeworm leaves the body on its own.
Others do not know that they carry this parasite in the intestine, because they have no symptoms whatsoever.
However, when diagnosing tapeworm infection, the doctor will prescribe medication to remove the tapeworm.
Therapy for intestinal infections
The most commonly prescribed treatment for tapeworm intestinal infection involves oral medications that are toxic to the adult tapeworm, including:
- Praziquantel (e.g. Cesol, Cysticide)
- Albendazole (Eskazole)
Which drug the doctor prescribes depends on the species of tapeworm.
The target of the drug effect is the adult tapeworms, not the eggs. Therefore, it is important to avoid reinfection.
After visiting the toilet and before eating, you should always wash your hands.
Therapy for invasive infections
Treatment of an invasive infection depends on its location and the effect of the worms.
- Worm remedy (anthelmintic)
Albendazole (Eskazole) may decrease the cysts caused by the tapeworm larvae. The doctor can check the cysts regularly via equipment such as echography and X-rays to make sure the drug is working. - Anti-inflammatory therapy
Tapeworm cysts that die can provoke swelling and inflammation in the tissues and organs.
The doctor will therefore prescribe corticosteroids such as prednisone or dexamethasone to reduce inflammation. - Antiepileptic drug therapy
If the tapeworm causes convulsions, antiepileptic drugs can block these disorders. - Shunt system
A severe type of infection can lead to the accumulation of fluid in the brain, a condition called hydrocephalus.
The doctor may recommend placing a permanent shunt (or tube) in the head to drain the fluid. - Surgical intervention
Surgical removal of cysts depends on their location and the symptoms caused.
Cysts that develop in the liver, lungs or eyes are usually removed, as they threaten the functioning of the organs.
Natural remedies for tapeworms
The most well-known home remedies include:
- Garlic. It is important not to cook this food, as it loses its nutritional properties.
You should eat two cloves of garlic daily to get rid of the tapeworm. - Onions
- pumpkin seeds – they contain herbal antiparasitics,
- Pineapple
- papaya seeds,
- Pomegranate or lemon juice.
To avoid:
- processed foods,
- refined cereals (such as white rice),
- white sugar,
- Fried
- raw meat and raw fish.
Prognosis for tapeworm infestation (recovery times)
Under therapy, the infection of a taenia heals completely.
Without treatment, it can last for several years or lead to death.
