Increased occurrences of nausea and/or diarrhea could be symptoms of dwarf tapeworm infection. You may also experience abdominal pain along with the upset stomach. The severity of your symptoms could vary greatly. Duration of these symptoms could be from a few days to intermittently over years.
As this is not as an immediate symptom as nausea or diarrhea, you may want to take a few days to make sure this is occurring. Weight loss is rarely an occurrence with dwarf tapeworm infection. [4] X Research source See if you are turning away even your favorite foods. There is a risk of vitamin deficiency and body chemistry imbalance with this, so consult your doctor if it persists.
If the pain is intense, see a doctor immediately in case it is a symptom of something else. This pain could vary in intensity from and duration from immediately of a few days to on and off for years depending on the persistence of infection. If you can identify the pain as acute (sharp and intense) and/or chronic (frequent occurrence)–this may help your doctor’s diagnosis. [6] X Research source The pain’s location may not situate itself in any one location in the abdominal area. Similar to the other conditions, it could be a symptom of the tapeworm infection, or other problems.
The irritation could also vary in intensity and duration depending on the timeline of the infection. A rash or physical blemish is not typically associated with this irritation, though you may risk inflicting such harm if you scratch too much.
If you feel the headache in conjunction with the other symptoms, this too could be signs of other illness–but the tapeworm infection remains a possibility. The headache’s intensity and duration may vary greatly depending on the persistence of the infection. There are ways to classify your pain level, if it’s sharp and severe (acute) or frequent (chronic). This can be useful to your doctor for diagnosis. [9] X Research source
Similar to loss of appetite, you should see if this pattern holds up over a few days to determine if it’s an actual symptom of your problem. Sleep loss caused by an associated problem is called “secondary insomnia” (as opposed to ordinary sleep loss or “primary insomnia”). As with pain problems, this can be acute (brief intense bouts) and/or chronic (frequently occurring). Let your doctor know how you are being affected. Besides waking up at night, you might experience sleepiness during the day, fatigue (tiredness), irritability (bad mood), and problems concentrating/memory. Any repeated disruption to your normal sleeping period can be a symptom of insomnia, but determining the cause may be up to your doctor and you.
These eggs are frequently passed through accidental ingestion. Fecal contamination is a possibility especially in poor sanitary/hygiene areas. You may not be able to visibly spot the eggs. While the worms can grow up to a couple of inches in length, the eggs will need medical instrumentation to detect. [13] X Research source
See what they ate, drank, or touched of an organic nature that may have been a carrier for the eggs.
Sometimes these other animals and insects will eat the eggs and then contaminate the food, water, and/or soil supply indirectly. The infection can spread by one consuming the intermediate host. The intermediate host may not show any obvious signs of infection. Contact an entomologist (expert on insects) either locally or if one can be reached at a nearby university for assistance on identifying infected insects in the area. Consult local environmental reports to see if any infections are reported. Ask your local forestry, or game and wildlife service to see if any animals in the area have been infected with tapeworms.
Accidentally ingesting some contaminated soil by putting your fingers to your mouth can lead to infection. Fecal contamination is a risk as the reproducing worm and eggs can pass through the bowels. Ask government agencies for reports on potential contamination. Get independent verification if possible. See if there are any environmental groups that work in the area and have contaminant information. Also independently verify their data if possible.
As with the food supply and soil, this is an at risk area for exposure to the eggs and fecal contamination from intermediate hosts. Ask to see if others have been infected from a particular water supply. File requests with the local government to get reports on the environmental health of the water supply. Independently verify the data with other sources if possible. Check with local environmental groups to see if they have been monitoring contamination of water supplies. But independently verify the data.
Diagnosis is made by identifying the eggs in the fecal stool. Your doctor will ask you to submit specimens collected over several days confirm if you are infected or not.
Praziquantel dissolves the dwarf tapeworm within the intestine. Praziquantel is usually well tolerated. Sometimes more than one treatment is necessary–up to ten days. [20] X Research source Follow your doctor’s instructions when taking praziquantel. But usually it is taken by mouth, with food, three or four times a day (four to six hours apart). You should take the medicine with a full glass of water. Do NOT chew or suck the medicine tablets. You should avoid consuming grapefruits or grapefruit products while taking praziquantel. Contact your doctor immediately if your condition persists or worsens. Sometimes Niclosamide or nitazoxanide are given as alternative medicines. Follow your doctor’s instructions when taking any of these medicines. [21] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
Most patients fully recover with treatment. More severe symptoms can result from prolonged infections, so treatment should be sought immediately.
If you have multiple bathrooms at home, consider using one while your family/guests use the other. Disinfect any bathroom equipment you use thoroughly after every use. Standard antibacterial sprays and soaps should be sufficient, but ask your doctor if they recommend something else. Consider leaving food preparation to others until your doctor certifies you as clear of the infection. Have an independent/portable food and water supply if you are traveling.
Wash your hands with soap and warm water. Do this after any task involving potential contaminants–especially after using the toilet, diaper changes, and during food preparation. Be particularly mindful of educating children in your area about cleanliness around potential contaminants–especially with their higher risk for dwarf tapeworm infection. If you are in a situation where food may be contaminated, you should wash, peel and/or cook all raw vegetables and fruits with safe/tested water before eating.
