How do tapeworms survive

If you have an invasive infection and the tapeworm forms a cyst or a lump, your doctor may prescribe an anthelmintic drug to shrink the mass. This is a type of antiparasitic medication.

Sometimes, doctors recommend surgery to remove a large cyst or lump. Your doctor may prescribe a corticosteroid Prednisone if inflammation develops in your organs or tissues.

An antiseizure medication may be prescribed if the infection affects your brain or central nervous system, thus triggering a seizure. An invasive infection can also cause fluid buildup in the brain. A shunt placement can be used to drain fluid. Getting early treatment for a tapeworm infection may reduce the likelihood of complications such as a digestive blockage. A large-sized tapeworm may block the appendix, bile ducts, or pancreatic duct. This may reduce organ function and blood supply.

In one study , different dosages of papaya seed infusions and varied amounts of whole papaya seeds were given to chickens infected with intestinal parasites. After two weeks of treatments, the chickens treated with the papaya seeds had a significantly lower number of intestinal worms.

In addition to papaya seeds, there are also claims of other natural dewormers. These include garlic, pumpkin, and ginger. These herbs have had antiparasitic effects in some animals , but more research is needed to confirm the benefits in humans.

If you ingest food or water contaminated with a tapeworm or its eggs, the parasite can travel to your intestines and cause different symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they often include:. Even though tapeworms can travel to the intestines, they can also migrate to other parts of the body and cause organ or tissue damage. Cysticercosis is a much more serious condition. If the doctor thinks you may have this condition, he or she might order a CT scan also called CAT scan or magnetic resonance imaging MRI of the brain to look for cysts.

In some cases, anti-parasite drugs can help shrink cysts and keep them from causing problems. Doctors may also prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs like steroids for cysticercosis infections. If someone has seizures, doctors may give that person anti-epilepsy medications.

If someone gets hydrocephalus because of cysticercosis, doctors may put a shunt, or tube, in the head to drain excess fluid. Surgeons will remove cysts if they pose a threat to the eyes, liver, lungs, heart, or other organs.

Most tapeworm infections are harmless. Note: All information on KidsHealth is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.

All rights reserved. Find a Doctor. About Us. Community Programs. California Kids Care. International Services. Video Visits: Telemedicine. Locations Main Campus. Satellite Locations. Emergency Care. Urgent Care. Safe Sleep Practices. Pay Your Bill. Financial Assistance. Tapeworms or cestodes are a class of flat parasite worms that usually have several hosts during their life cycle.

The adults live in the intestinal tracts of the vertebrates and may pose a considerable threat to human and animal health. Due to their parasitic mode of life these worms completely lost their digestive apparatus but have a well-developed reproductive system and special organs that help them attach to the host's tissues. They also needed a mechanism to protect themselves from intestinal substances, specifically from digestive enzymes.

One of such enzymes called trypsin breaks down proteins. If you ingest certain tapeworm eggs, they can migrate outside your intestines and form larval cysts in body tissues and organs invasive infection.

If you ingest tapeworm larvae, however, they develop into adult tapeworms in your intestines intestinal infection. An adult tapeworm consists of a head, neck and chain of segments called proglottids. When you have an intestinal tapeworm infection, the tapeworm head adheres to the intestinal wall, and the proglottids grow and produce eggs.

Adult tapeworms can live for up to 30 years in a host. Intestinal tapeworm infections are usually mild, with only one or two adult tapeworms. But invasive larval infections can cause serious complications. Many people with intestinal tapeworm infection don't have symptoms. If you do have problems from the infection, your symptoms will depend on the type of tapeworm you have and its location. Invasive tapeworm infection symptoms vary depending on where the larvae have migrated.

If tapeworm larvae have migrated out of your intestines and formed cysts in other tissues, they can eventually cause organ and tissue damage, resulting in:. Ingestion of eggs. If you eat food or drink water contaminated with feces from a person or animal with tapeworm, you ingest microscopic tapeworm eggs. For example, a dog infected with a tapeworm will pass tapeworm eggs in its feces, which get into the soil.