10/08/2022
Tapeworms are a type of parasite that live in the intestines of animals. They have a head, neck, and many body segments called proglottids. They lay eggs, which then hatch into larvae before maturing into an adult tapeworm.
Humans can become infected by eating eggs or larvae in contaminated water or meat. The infection in humans is usually easily treated but sometimes it can cause serious problems.
If a human or an animal consumes tapeworm eggs, the eggs hatch into larvae, which break through the wall of the intestines and grow inside cysts in tissues or organs. These can cause life-threatening damage.
If you consume tapeworm larvae, they can develop into adult tapeworms in the intestines. They attach to the wall of the intestine with suckers or hooks, and remain there to feed and grow. An adult tapeworm can be very long and live in the intestine for many years.
The most common tapeworm infection in Australia is caused by dwarf tapeworm. There is also a risk in Australia of contracting a serious condition called hydatid disease from the eggs of a type of tapeworm called Echinococcus granulosus found in dog faeces (poo). You should see your doctor if you have any signs of tapeworm infection.
It is also possible to be infected by other types of tapeworm overseas.
What are the symptoms of tapeworm infection?
People with tapeworm infection often have no symptoms. If you have symptoms, they will depend on the type of tapeworm and where it is in your body.
Intestinal tapeworm infection can cause:
pain in the abdomen (tummy)
nausea
weakness or tiredness
diarrhoea
loss of appetite
weight loss
vitamin and mineral deficiencies
pieces of worm in the faeces
If you develop a complication you may have:
fever
allergic symptoms
headaches, dizziness or seizures
If you have hydatid disease, you may have fluid-filled cysts in the body. These most commonly grow in the liver or lungs, but can grow in any organ including the brain, heart or bones. The cysts normally do not cause problems unless they grow very large or break.
What causes tapeworm infection?
You can be infected with tapeworm larvae by eating raw or undercooked meat, such as beef, pork, or fish.
You can consume tapeworm eggs in infected water or by accidentally coming into contact with dog faeces, for example by handling an object, food or water that has been contaminated.
How is tapeworm infection diagnosed?
Your doctor will ask for a stool sample and perhaps a blood test to confirm that you have tapeworms and what kind of tapeworm you have.
If you have hydatid disease, you may need an x-ray, ultrasound, or MRI scans to diagnose the cysts.
How is tapeworm infection treated?
You will probably be prescribed medicine to kill the tapeworms.
If you have hydatid disease, you may need other medication and perhaps surgery to remove the cysts.
Can tapeworm infection be prevented?
You can reduce your risk of tapeworm infection by:
washing your hands after using the toilet and before handling food
following food handling guidelines
not eating undercooked pork, beef and fish
controlling tapeworm infection in your dog, with preventive deworming and quickly treating any dog infected with tapeworm
not letting a dog lick your face
not feeding dogs raw offal
Tapeworms are flat, segmented worms that live in the intestines of some animals. Animals can become infected with these parasites when grazing in pastures or drinking contaminated water.
Eating undercooked meat from infected animals is the main cause of tapeworm infection in people. Although tapeworms in humans usually cause few symptoms and are easily treated, they can sometimes cause serious, life-threatening problems. That's why it's important to recognize the symptoms and know how to protect yourself and your family.
Tapeworm Causes
Six types of tapeworms are known to infect people. They are usually identified by the animals they come from -- for example, Taenia saginata from beef, Taenia solium from pork, and Diphyllobothrium latum from fish.
Tapeworms have a three-stage lifecycle: egg, an immature stage called a larva, and an adult stage at which the worm can produce more eggs. Because larvae can get into the muscles of their hosts, infection can occur when you eat raw or undercooked meat from an infected animal.
It is also possible to contract pork tapeworms from foods prepared by an infected person. Because tapeworm eggs are passed with bowel movements, a person who doesn't wash hands well after wiping and then prepares food can contaminate the food.
Tapeworm Symptoms
Sometimes tapeworms cause symptoms such as
Nausea
Weakness
Diarrhea
Abdominal pain
Hunger or loss of appetite
Fatigue
Weight loss
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
However, often tapeworms don't cause symptoms. The only sign of tapeworm infection may be segments of the worms, possibly moving, in a bowel movement.
In rare cases, tapeworms can lead to serious complications, including blocking the intestine, or smaller ducts in the intestine (like the bile duct or pancreatic duct).
If pork tapeworm larvae move out of the intestine, they can migrate to other parts of the body and cause damage to the liver, eyes, heart, and brain. These infections can be life-threatening. Seizures are the most common symptom of cysticercosis, the infection caused by the larvae of the pork tapeworm.
Treatment for Tapeworms
If you suspect you have tapeworms, see your doctor. Diagnosing a tapeworm infection may require a stool sample to identify the type of worm.
