What Is a Tapeworm Infection?Tapeworms are flat worms that can live in a person's. Tapeworm infections are rare in the United States. When they do happen,they're easy to treat. Often, people may not know they have a tapeworm infection becausethey have no symptoms or their symptoms are mild. What Causes a Tapeworm Infection?Tapeworms get into the body when someone eats or drinks something that's infectedwith a worm or its eggs. Once inside the body, the tapeworm head attaches to the innerwall of the intestines and feeds off the food being digested. Pieces of the tapewormbreak off and come out of the body in feces (poop), along with the eggs they contain.If this infected poop gets into soil or water, it can infect other people or animals.Most people with a tapeworm infection got it by:.
A child catches worms by swallowing minute eggs which are usually picked up on hands, particularly under the fingernails, when the child sucks her fingers, bites her nails or puts food into her. Threadworms in children: the symptoms and treatment. Your stomach may turn at the thought of these the tiny little white worms, which appear in your child's poo or around their bottom. But, given that it affects as many as half of all under 10s at some point, threadworms is just one of those childhood ailments that's worth being clued up on.
eating raw or undercooked beef, pork, or fish infected with tapewormor. contact with poop that contains tapeworm eggs. People can pass tapeworm eggs toothers when they don't wash their hands after using the bathroom. Tapeworm eggs infeces can then spread into food or onto surfaces like doorknobs.What Are the Signs & Symptoms of a Tapeworm Infection?Most kids who have a tapeworm infection don't notice anything. It can take monthsor years for signs to start. Then, a child might complain of:.
mild nausea. belly pain. weight lossKids with a tapeworm infection may feel a piece of the worm coming out throughthe anus (where the poop comes out).
You may even see a piece of worm in the poop.A tapeworm that's in the intestines for a long time can get big and block the appendixor other organs, leading toand other problems.There are different types of tapeworm. One (fish tapeworm) can causebecause it uses up the vitamin B12 that a person needs to make red blood cells.The eggs of another type of tapeworm (pork tapeworm) cause a disease called cysticercosis(sis-tuh-ser-KOE-sis). This happens when pork tapeworm eggs from poop get into someone'smouth.
(It doesn't happen from eating contaminated pork.) They hatch into larvae,then go through the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream. From there they cantravel to different organs in the body, such as muscles, eyes, or brain, where theyform cysts. This can lead to:.
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lumps under the skin. vision problems. an abnormal heartbeat. weakness or trouble walkingCysticercosis is rare in the United States, but common in many developing countries. How Is a Tapeworm Infection Diagnosed?To diagnose a tapeworm infection, doctors will collect and examine a on 3 different days to check for tapeworm eggs or pieces of worm. Theymay also do a blood test.If a child could have cysticercosis, the doctor might recommend a or of the brain or otherorgans to look for cysts.
How Is a Tapeworm Infection Treated?Doctors treat tapeworm infections with prescription anti-parasite drugs. Often,one dose is enough.For cysticercosis that causes(excess fluid in the brain), doctors may put in ato drain excess fluid.
Surgeons will remove cysts if they cause problems with theeyes, liver, lungs, heart, or other organs. Can Tapeworm Infections Be Prevented?To help protect your family from tapeworm infections:. Wash your hands well and often with soap and warm water, especially after usingthe bathroom and before touching food.
Threadworms (pinworms) are tiny worms in your poo. They're common in children and spread easily. You can treat them without seeing your GP.
Check if it's threadworms
You can spot worms in your poo. They look like pieces of white thread.
You might also see them around your child's bottom (anus). The worms usually come out at night while your child is sleeping.
See what threadworms look like in poo
Other symptoms can include:
- extreme itching around the anus or vagina, particularly at night
- irritability and waking up during the night
Less common signs of worms include:
- weight loss
- wetting the bed
- irritated skin around the anus
A pharmacist can help with threadworms
You can buy medicine for threadworms from pharmacies. This is usually a chewable tablet or liquid you swallow.
Treat everyone in your household, even if they do not have symptoms.
Tell the pharmacist if you need to treat a child under 2, or if you're pregnant or breastfeeding. Treatment might not be suitable and you may need to speak to a GP.
Things you should do at home
Medicine kills the threadworms, but it does not kill the eggs. Eggs can live for up to 2 weeks outside the body.
There are things you can do to stop becoming infected again.
Do
- wash hands and scrub under fingernails – particularly before eating, after using the toilet or changing nappies
- encourage children to wash hands regularly
- bathe or shower every morning
- rinse toothbrushes before using them
- keep fingernails short
- wash sleepwear, sheets, towels and soft toys (at normal temperature)
- disinfect kitchen and bathroom surfaces
- vacuum and dust with a damp cloth
- make sure children wear underwear at night – change it in the morning
Don't
- do not shake clothing or bedding, to prevent eggs landing on other surfaces
- do not share towels or flannels
- do not bite nails or suck thumbs and fingers
Important
You do not need to stay off school, nursery or work with threadworms.
How threadworms spread
Threadworms spread when their eggs are swallowed. They lay eggs around your anus, which make it itchy. The eggs get stuck on your fingers when you scratch. They can then pass on to anything you touch, including:
- clothes
- toys
- toothbrushes
- kitchen or bathroom surfaces
- bedding
- food
- pets
Clear cookie boxes. Eggs can then pass to other people when they touch these surfaces and touch their mouth. They take around 2 weeks to hatch.
Children can get worms again after they've been treated for them if they get the eggs in their mouth. This is why it's important to encourage children to wash their hands regularly.
Page last reviewed: 21 December 2017
Next review due: 21 December 2020
Next review due: 21 December 2020