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Tapeworm Infestation

Mark Stephens, MD MS Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Tapeworms (cestodes) are parasitic flatworms that cause human and animal infections.

  • Taeniasis, diphyllobothriasis, hymenolepiasis, dipylidiasis, sparganosis, echinococcosis, and hyda...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Often asymptomatic; Symptoms vary with infecting organism and typically include: nausea, abdominal pain, anorexia. In addition:

  • T. saginata (beef tapeworm): may note passage of eggs or...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Consideration of medical or surgical treatment is dependent on the host, stage of the lesion, and associated complications.

  • Asymptomatic cysticercosis may resolve spontaneousl...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Patient Monitoring

  • Examine several stool specimens for ova and parasites at 3 months for Taenia sp. and 1 month for other intestinal tapeworms.

  • Follow neurocysticer...

REFERENCES

1
Alloy KA, Gilman RH. Tapeworm Infections in: Hunter's Tropical Medicine and Emerging Infectious Diseases. 10th ed. 2012; pp 932-940.
2
Herrick JA, Bustos JA, Clapham P, et al. Unique charac...

CODES

ICD10

  • B71.9 Cestode infection, unspecified

  • B71.0 Hymenolepiasis

  • B70.0 Diphyllobothriasis

  • B69.0 Cysticercosis of central nervous system

  • B67.90 Echinococcosis, unspecified

  • B68.0 Taenia solium taeniasis

  • B...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Tapeworm infections are often asymptomatic and may have a long latency

  • For asymptomatic neurocysticercosis, treatment may not be necessary. Calcified cysts generally do not need antipar...

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