Tapeworm infection

Tapeworm infection mainly affects communities in developing countries of Latin America, Asia, and Africa.

Presentation is variable and is dependent on size, location, and condition of the cyst. Extra-intestinal manifestations include cysticercosis (can affect any organ), hydatidosis (can affect any organ but typically the liver and lungs), and neurocysticercosis (affecting the central nervous system).

Diagnosis is made by stool examination and serology; radiology is necessary for extra-intestinal manifestations.

Intestinal infection is treated with antiparasitic therapy only, while extra-intestinal infection requires additional treatments including corticosteroids, anticonvulsants, and surgical intervention. Patients with neurocysticercosis may present with increased intracranial pressure, which is a medical emergency.

An infection by parasitic flatworms of the taxonomic class Cestoda. The worms can vary in length from a few millimetres to 25 metres, and can contain thousands of proglottids (tapeworm segments).[1]Schantz PM, Kern P, Brunetti R. Echinococcus. In: Guerrant RL, Walker DH, Weller PF, eds. Tropical infectious diseases: principles, pathogens and practice. 1st ed. Oxford, UK: Churchill Livingstone; 2005:1304-26.[2]Wittner M, Tanowitz HB, White AC. Taenia and other tapeworms. In: Guerrant RL, Walker DH, Weller PF, eds. Tropical infectious diseases: principles, pathogens and practice. 1st ed. Oxford, UK: Churchill Livingstone; 2005:1327-40. Adult tapeworms usually possess an anterior scolex (head; plural 'scolices') that may be modified with structures or organelles that attach to the host. When mature, these parasites reside in the intestinal tract of definitive carnivorous hosts, and larval cysts are formed in the intermediate hosts.

Tapeworms cause intestinal infection in humans when the immature cysticercoid larvae attach to the intestinal mucosa using the scolices, and grow by production of proglottid segments. Certain cestodes can also cause extra-intestinal infections. Ingested eggs hatch in the intestines and larvae migrate to extra-intestinal tissues, where they encyst. Cysts due to Taenia solium within the central nervous system are referred to as neurocysticercosis, and cysts in other locations are termed cysticercosis. Cysts due to Echinococcus granulosus are referred to as cystic echinococcosis or hydatid cysts, and cysts due to E multilocularis are referred to as alveolar echinococcosis.

Taeniasis (or taeniosis) refers to infection with tapeworms of the genus Taenia (e.g., T solium, T saginata).