Tapeworm infection

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Prevention

By Mayo Clinic staff

To prevent tapeworm infection:

  • Wash your hands with soap and water before eating or handling food and after using the toilet.
  • When traveling in areas where tapeworm is more common, wash and cook all fruits and vegetables with safe water before eating.
  • Eliminate livestock exposure to tapeworm eggs by properly disposing of animal and human feces.
  • Thoroughly cook meat at temperatures of at least 125 F (52 C) to kill tapeworm eggs or larvae.
  • Freeze meat for at least 12 hours and fish for at least 24 hours to kill tapeworm eggs and larvae.
  • Avoid eating raw or undercooked pork, beef and fish.
  • Promptly treat dogs infected with tapeworm.
Treatments and drugs
References
  1. King CH, et al. Cestodes (tapeworms). In: Mandell GL, et al. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?about=true&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..X0001-X--TOP&isbn=978-0-443-06839-3&uniqId=230100505-57. Accessed Nov. 15, 2011.
  2. White AC Jr., et al. Cestodes. In: Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/191371208-2/0/1492/0.html#. Accessed Nov. 16, 2011.
  3. Craig P, et al. Intestinal cestodes. Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases. 2007;20:524.
  4. Leder K, et al. Intestinal tapeworms. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 16, 2011.
  5. White AC Jr. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of cysticercosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 16, 2011.
  6. White AC Jr. Treatment of cysticercosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 16, 2011.
DS00659 Dec. 20, 2011

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