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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffTapeworm 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
