| Taeniasis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| The life cycle of Taenia saginata, the beef tapeworm | |
| Specialty | Infectious disease |
| Symptoms | None, weight loss, abdominal pain[1] |
| Complications | Pork tapeworm: cysticercosis[1] |
| Types | Taenia solium (pork tapeworm), Taenia saginata (beef tapeworm), Taenia asiatica (Asian tapeworm)[2] |
| Causes | Infection with adult tapeworms[2][3] |
| Risk factors | Eating contaminated undercooked pork or beef[1] |
| Diagnostic method | Examination of stool samples[4] |
| Prevention | Properly cooking meat[1] |
| Treatment | Praziquantel, niclosamide[1] |
| Frequency | 50 million (with cysticercosis)[5] |
Taeniasis is an infection within the intestines by adult tapeworms belonging to the genus Taenia.[2][3] There are generally no or only mild symptoms.[2] Symptoms may occasionally include weight loss or abdominal pain.[1] Segments of tapeworm may be seen in the stool.[1] Complications of pork tapeworm may include cysticercosis.[1]
Types of Taenia that cause infections in humans include Taenia solium (pork tapeworm), Taenia saginata (beef tapeworm), and Taenia asiatica (Asian tapeworm).[2] Taenia saginata is due to eating contaminated undercooked beef while Taenia solium and Taenia asiatica is from contaminated undercooked pork.[2] Diagnosis is by examination of stool samples.[4]
Prevention is by properly cooking meat.[1] Treatment is generally with praziquantel, though niclosamide may also be used.[1] Together with cysticercosis, infections affect about 50 million people globally.[5] The disease is most common in the developing world.[1] In the United States fewer than 1,000 cases occur a year.[1]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "CDC - Taeniasis - General Information - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)". www.cdc.gov. 24 April 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f "CDC - Taeniasis". www.cdc.gov. 24 April 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ a b "CDC - Taeniasis - Biology". www.cdc.gov. 24 April 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ a b "CDC - Taeniasis - Diagnosis". www.cdc.gov. 24 April 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
- ^ a b Griffiths, Jeffrey; Maguire, James H.; Heggenhougen, Kristian; Quah, Stella R. (2010). Public Health and Infectious Diseases. Elsevier. p. 216. ISBN 978-0-12-381507-1.