What Is Tapeworm Infestation?

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Cestodiasis, otherwise known as “cestodes” or “tapeworm infestation”, is an infection caused by consuming tapeworm eggs and/or larvae. This is a rare disease found in humans with fewer than 200,000 US cases per year. This rare disease is treatable by a medical professional but requires a medical diagnosis. Cestodiasis or “cestodes” can be spread through contaminated food or water. A tapeworm infestation in the human body is usually confined to the intestine but can be spread to other parts of the body. If the tapeworms reach other parts of the body it can cause organ failure and tissue damage. Adult tapeworms can live up to 30 years in their host. Many people never realize they have tapeworms because it doesn't have any symptoms. In many …show more content…

It is a class of the parasitic worm called the flatworm. It is known best as the tapeworm. Depending on the tapeworm, they can become very long. The tip of their scolex contain hooks and suckers to help better attach itself to its host. It will attach itself to the intestinal wall then suck and absorb their food through the skin. There are 2 types of tapeworm infestations in humans. The first one is called intestinal cestodiasis which is where mature worms live in the lumen of the intestine, producing eggs which are then placed in feces. They are then in the future passed into other hosts and then developed there. The second type of infestation is visceral and somatic cestodiasis which is where the larvae form and live in the bodies organs. There are 30 or more types of tapeworms that can cause intestinal cestodiasis in …show more content…

This worm can grow up to 4.5 to 6 meters long which is about 15 to 20 feet long. Another type of worm is the Taenia Solium or the “pork tapeworm”. This worm is smaller the the Taenia Saginata only growing 2 to 3 meters long. Diphyllobothrium Latum, or “fish tapeworm”, can grow to 9 meters long. This worm is acquired by eating undercooked meats such as beef, pork, or fish that are usually infected with tapeworm larvae or eggs. The most common tapeworm found in humans is the Hymenolepis Nana or the “dwarf tapeworm”. This worm is no more than a few centimeters long and it releases eggs that require no intermediate

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