Tapeworm

What is a tapeworm?

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 or drinking tapeworm eggs or larvae in contaminated meat or water. Tapeworm 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 body tissues. Rarely, 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 stay 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).

It is also possible to be infected by other types of tapeworms 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:

• abdominal pain
• nausea
• weakness or tiredness
• diarrhoea
• loss of appetite and/or weight loss
• vitamin and mineral deficiencies
• pieces of worm in the faeces

What causes tapeworm infection

You can be infected with tapeworm larvae by eating raw or undercooked meat, such as beef, pork, or fish, or drinking contaminated water.

You may also come into contact with tapeworm eggs after handling food, water or objects that have been contaminated with dog faeces from an infected dog.

When should I see my doctor?

You should see your doctor if you have any of the symptoms of tapeworm infection.

How is tapeworm infection diagnosed?

Your doctor will ask for a stool (poo) sample and sometimes a blood test to confirm that you have tapeworms and check what kind of tapeworm you have.

If you have hydatid disease, you may need an x-ray, ultrasound, or MRI scan to diagnose the cysts.

How is tapeworm infection treated?

Medicine is usually used to treat tapeworm infection — your doctor will prescribe a medicine that suits your condition.

If you have hydatid disease, you may need other medicines and sometimes surgery to remove the cysts.

Can tapeworm infection be prevented?

You can reduce your risk of tapeworm infection if you:

• wash your hands after using the toilet and before handling food
• follow food handling guidelines
• don’t eat undercooked pork, beef and fish
• control tapeworm infection in your dog with preventive deworming and promptly treat tapeworm infection in your pets
• don’t let a dog lick your face
• don’t feed dogs raw offal

What are the complications of tapeworm infection?

Symptoms associated with complications of tapeworm infection include:

• allergic symptoms
• headaches
• dizziness
• seizures

If you have hydatid disease, you may develop fluid-filled cysts in your body. These most commonly grow in the liver or lungs, but can grow in any organ including your brain, heart or bones. The cysts normally do not cause problems unless they grow very large or burst.