Tapeworm Infection

A tapeworm is a parasite that grows in the intestines (gut). They can live in your body for many years. Or they can leave the body during a bowel movement. Tapeworms can cause an infection.

They lay eggs that are then found in the feces of infected humans and animals. You can get a tapeworm if you eat or drink something that was made by an infected person who did not wash their hands after using the toilet. You can also get an infection from eating undercooked pork or beef from infected cows or pigs.

You can have a tapeworm infection and not even know it. This is because there are often no symptoms. But you might notice larvae or small pieces of the worm in your stool (feces). When symptoms occur, they include weakness, stomach pain, and nausea. They may also include loss of appetite, diarrhea, and weight loss.

Without treatment, tapeworms can sometimes cause very serious illness. Adult tapeworms don't cause much damage, but very young tapeworms (larvae) can cause serious disease. The larvae can leave the intestine and travel to other parts of the body. They can cause cysts to form in your organs. These include the liver, lungs, eyes, and brain. But most people recover without any problems if the larvae are treated before they spread outside the intestine.

Before treating a tapeworm infection, your healthcare provider needs to know what kind of tapeworm you have. You may need blood tests and up to three stool specimens collected on different days. Then, your healthcare provider can prescribe a medicine.

A tapeworm infection that remains in the intestines responds well to oral medicines. If the infection has spread to other organs, more serious symptoms can occur. Cysts in your brain can cause seizures. You may need surgery to remove the cysts depending on their location.

Your healthcare provider will need to test samples of your stool for up to 3 months after your treatment. This is to be sure you are clear of infection.