TAENIASIS

Pathogenesis

• Eggs deposited on vegetation can live for months or years until they are ingested by cattle or other herbivores.

• The embryo released after ingestion invades the intestinal wall and is carried to striated muscle, where it transforms into a cysticercus.

• When ingested in raw or undercooked beef, this form can infect humans.• After the cysticercus is ingested, it takes 2 months for the mature adult worm to ∼

develop.• The adult Helminth usually resides in the upper jejunum and can grow up to 8m long

for Taenia Saginata and 3m for Taenia Solium.

Clinical Manifestation

• Mild abdominal pain: It is a colicky pain more common in the morning and usually relieved by eating small amounts of food. The is localised in epigastric/umbilical areas and accompanied with nausea and epigastric distension.

• DIARRHEA: has an insidious onset, watery type of diarrhea accompanied by abdominal pain.

• Passage of whitish proglottids with stools: This might be the only symptom noted in some patients, as they notice white motile segments in the stool. This may cause perianal discomfort or itching

• Nonspecific symptoms: change in appetite, weakness, headache, dizziness & weight loss

DIAGNOSIS

• The diagnosis is made by the detection of eggs or proglottids in the stool.

• if proglottids or eggs are not found in the stool, the perianal region should be examined with use of a cellophane-tape swab

Differential Diagnosis

• Cholecystitis• Cysticercosis• Gastroenteritis• Irritable bowel syndrome• Giardiasis

Treatment

• Ethiotropic

• 1st line: Praziquantel 10mg/kg in 1 dose PO• Alternatives: Niclosamide 2g as single dose PO (adult dose) 500mg (for children < 2yrs 1g (3 to 6 years) Albendazole: 400mg bid PO

Follow-up

• Stool examination should be repeated 30 days after treatment initiation in order to confirm complete eraication.

GENERAL PREVENTION: Beef should be well cooked before eating(criticaltemperature 56degrees celcius. Deep freezing below Minus 10 degrees celcius for 10days will also kill cycticerci

Possible complications

• Appendicitis• Pancreatic and bile duct obstruction• Ectopic growth tapeworm e.g uterine cavity.