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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffTapeworm infection is caused by ingesting food or water contaminated with tapeworm eggs or larvae. If you ingest certain tapeworm eggs, they can migrate outside your intestines and form cysts in body tissues and organs (invasive tapeworm infection). If you ingest tapeworm larvae, however, they develop into adult tapeworms in the intestines (intestinal tapeworm 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 intestine wall, and the proglottids grow and produce eggs. Adult tapeworms can live for up to 20 years in a host. Intestinal tapeworm infections are usually mild, but invasive tapeworm infections can cause serious complications.
- King CH. Cestodes (tapeworms). In: Mandell GL, et al. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 6th ed. Orlando, Fla.: Churchill Livingstone; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/156207614-3/0/1259/2336.html?tocnode=51384605&fromURL=2336.html#4-u1.0-B0-443-06643-4..50291-9_9001. Accessed Aug. 23, 2009.
- King CH. Cestode infections. In: Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/156207614-3/0/1492/1272.html?tocnode=54627631&fromURL=1272.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2805-5..50380-3_15831 Accessed Aug. 23, 2009.
- Craig P, et al. Intestinal cestodes. Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases. 2007; 20:524.
- Leder K, et al. Intestinal tapeworms. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 23, 2009.
- White AC. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of cysticercosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 23, 2009.
- White AC. Treatment of cysticercosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 23, 2009.
