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All About Tapeworms
Like a monster from an old-fashioned horror film, tapeworms can grow to a frighteningly large size, usually around 12 feet long in humans and 100 feet in other animals. Living in the intestines, they can feed off of their hosts for twenty years or more without being detected, as commonly a tapeworm infection won’t cause any noticeable symptoms.
What are Tapeworms?
Tapeworms, or cestoda, are a type of parasitic flatworm. As they grow, they become long, flat and segmented. Each segment is capable of breaking off to form eggs and new tapeworms. Their heads come equipped with suckers, rows of teeth, or hooks to latch on to the host’s intestinal walls.
Generally obtained by eating undercooked food, the most common types of tapeworms acquired by humans are the following:
- Beef Tapeworm
- Fish Tapeworm
- Pork Tapeworm
Though most prevalent in China and East Africa, tapeworms can take up residence in hosts all over the world.
Signs and Symptoms of Tapeworms
Usually, a tapeworm infection won’t cause any noticeable symptoms. The host won’t even notice that they are infected with tapeworms until they see segments of the tapeworm (resembling strips of tape) in their stools. Though uncommon, at times the following symptoms may be experienced:
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Weakness
In some cases, such as if the eggs are ingested, the tapeworms (as larvae) may migrate to other parts of the body. If the infection reaches the brain, results could be serious, involving seizures.
Symptoms of Tapeworm Migration:
- Fever
- Cysts
- Bacterial infections
- Neurological problems or seizures
Fortunately, the incidence of migration of tapeworms is relatively rare. They prefer to stay in the intestines, where nutrients are abundant, and this type of infection is easily treatable.
Risk Factors for Tapeworms
Because tapeworms live in animal tissue, tapeworm infection is almost always caused by eating raw or undercooked meat, or other sanitary issues. The following practices may make someone more susceptible to becoming a host for tapeworms.
- Exposure to livestock
- Poor hygiene
- Travel to developing countries
- Eating undercooked or raw meats or fish
Avoiding these risk factors is relatively simple, fortunately. By washing one’s hands before eating and after using the restroom, and making sure to cook meat properly, tapeworms can usually be prevented. However, if they are picked up, treatment is readily available.
Treatments for Tapeworms
Oral prescriptive treatment is available to kill tapeworms within the body, and is usually taken in a single dose. As the tapeworm dies, some discomfort may be felt in the intestines. The tapeworms are then passed out through the rectum. It’s important to bear in mind that this medication will only kill the adult tapeworm, not the eggs, so extra hand-washing and hygienic detail is necessary during this time. Prevention goes a long way to avoid the whole ordeal.
Lifestyle Tips to Keep in Mind:
- Wash hands frequently
- Make sure pets are de-wormed
- Cook all meat to a well-done degree
- Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly
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