What is the difference between pork and bovine tapeworm?
Bovine tapeworm comes to people with beef, pork tapeworm - with pork. Adult worms are similar, but the segments of the bovine tapeworm actively crawl out of the anus and between bowel movements, which is what patients notice most often. The fundamental difference is different: pork tapeworm eggs are dangerous for humans. If they get into the mouth with dirty hands or are thrown out of the intestines during vomiting, larvae emerge from them, which settle in the muscles, subcutaneous tissue, eyes and brain. This condition is called cysticercosis and is treated very differently.
- Bovine tapeworm - source beef
- Pork tapeworm - source pork
- The segments of the bovine tapeworm are actively crawling out
- Pork tapeworm eggs are dangerous to humans
- Cysticercosis requires separate treatment
Symptoms
Many people do not notice the parasite for years, and the only reason to contact them is the discovery of a mobile white segment in their underwear or feces. Others experience nausea, rumbling, unstable stools, cramping pain around the navel, increased fatigue and irritability. Appetite usually does not suffer, and weight decreases. Children may have sleep disturbances and weakness. Occasionally, a large worm causes mechanical obstruction or blocks the exit of the bile ducts, and then acute pain occurs.
- Passage of white segments with feces or independently
- Nausea, rumbling, unstable stool
- Pain around the navel
- Weight loss while maintaining appetite
- Weakness, irritability, poor sleep
- Itching in the anus
Diagnostics
The diagnosis is confirmed by examining excreted segments and feces for helminth eggs. The analysis often has to be repeated because the eggs are released unevenly. Scraping from the perianal folds is also useful. A general blood test sometimes reveals moderate eosinophilia and signs of anemia. Determining the type of tapeworm is fundamentally important for choosing tactics. If there are neurological complaints or subcutaneous nodules, the doctor will refer you for a brain tomography and consultation with a neurologist to rule out cysticercosis.
- Study of separated segments
- Fecal analysis for helminth eggs, often repeated
- Scraping from perianal folds
- Coprogram
- General blood test with leukemia formula
- Brain tomography for neurological complaints
Treatment
The expulsion of tapeworm is carried out with anthelmintic drugs, which are selected by the doctor; in case of taeniasis, this is done especially carefully so as not to provoke egg casting and cysticercosis. Usually they prescribe preparation, a light diet and a laxative, and then check whether the parasite comes out entirely along with the head: if the head remains, the worm grows back. After one and three months, the tests are repeated. Home methods such as pumpkin seeds as the only treatment are unreliable and dangerous if pork tapeworm is suspected.
- Anthelmintic drug as prescribed by a doctor
- Preparation and control of parasite excretion
- Mandatory check to see if the worm head has come out
- Control tests after 1 and 3 months
- Examination of family members
- Refusal to self-medicate if you suspect pork tapeworm
Prevention
The larvae die with sufficient heat treatment and deep, long-term freezing. Therefore, the basic rule is not to eat raw or half-raw meat, not to taste raw minced meat, and to ensure that the kebab and cutlets are fully cooked, without any pink juice. Buy meat from places where veterinary control is carried out. In the kitchen, use a separate board and knife for raw meat, and wash your hands and utensils after cutting. If the joints come out, consult a doctor and do not treat at random.
- Completely fry and parboil the meat.
- Do not try raw minced meat
- Buy meat with veterinary control
- Separate board and knife for raw meat
- Wash your hands after cutting meat and before eating
- Examine the family if a parasite is detected