Internal Medicine

0521779407-20 CUNY1086/Karliner 0 521 77940 7 June 4, 2007 21:22

1404 Takayasu Arteritis Tapeworm Infections

differential diagnosis

n/a

management

n/a

specific therapy

n/a

follow-up

n/a

complications and prognosis

n/a

TAPEWORM INFECTIONS

J. GORDON FRIERSON, MD

history & physical

History

■Exposure:Taenia saginata(beef tapeworm): eating raw or under-

cooked beef containing encysted larvae.

➣Taenia solium(pork tapeworm): eating raw or undercooked pork

containing encysted larvae (see cysticercosis).

➣Diphyllobothriuminfections (fish tapeworm): eating raw or

undercooked fresh or brackish water fish containing encysted

larvae. Several species infest humans.

➣Hymenolepis nana: fecal-oral route: eating contaminated food

or putting fecally contaminated fingers into mouth thus con-

veying eggs to mouth. Auto-infection occurs, can produce heavy

infections.

Signs & Symptoms

■T saginata: passage of individual segments (proglottids) or parts of

worm. Rarely any GI symptoms.

■T solium: passage of individual segments (proglottids) or parts of

worm. Rarely any GI symptoms. Symptoms and signs of cysticercosis

may be present.

■Diphyllobothrium latum: passage of individual segments (proglot-

tids) or parts of worm. Rarely any GI symptoms. Occasionally fatigue

and vitamin B12 deficiency.