Tapeworm infection

Mayo Clinic Health Manager

Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.

Get Started

Free

E-Newsletter

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. View sample

Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

Tapeworm infection usually occurs when you eat food or drink water contaminated with tapeworm eggs or larvae. Most people infected with tapeworm are unaware they're carrying them. Tapeworms occur in humans in one of two forms. If ingested as eggs, they may develop into larvae that migrate out of the intestines and form cysts in other tissues such as the lungs or liver. These cysts can cause serious problems. Or, if ingested as larvae, they typically develop into adult tapeworms in the intestines, which usually cause few or no symptoms.

A tapeworm infection that's confined to your intestines is easily treated with oral medications, and the prognosis for eradication is good. However, when the disease has migrated to other parts of your body, treatment is more difficult and untreated cases can be life-threatening.

The good news is that you can help prevent tapeworm infection with good personal hygiene, such as washing your hands before eating, and avoiding eating raw or undercooked meats.

Symptoms

DS00659

Nov. 29, 2007

© 1998-2009 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Reliable tools for healthier lives," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Print Share Reprints

Text Size: smaller largerlarger