BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuCysticercosisCysticercosis is an infection by a parasite called Taenia solium (T solium). It is a pork tapeworm that creates cysts in different areas of the body.CystsA cyst is a closed pocket or pouch of tissue. It can be filled with air, fluid, pus, or other material.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Cysticercosis is caused by swallowing eggs from T solium. The eggs are found in contaminated food. Autoinfection is when a person who is already infected with adult T solium swallows its eggs. This occurs due to improper hand washing after a bowel movement (fecal-oral transmission).Improper hand washingWashing your hands often during the day is an important way to help reduce the spread of germs and prevent illness. Learn when you should wash your ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Risk factors include eating pork, fruits, and vegetables contaminated with T solium as a result of undercooking or improper food preparation. The disease can also be spread by contact with infected feces.Improper food preparationFood poisoning occurs when you swallow food or water that contains bacteria, parasites, viruses, or the toxins made by these germs. Most cases are c...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The disease is rare in the United States. It is common in many developing countries. Symptoms Most often, the worms stay in muscles and do not cause symptoms.Symptoms occur depending on where the infection is found in the body:Brain -- seizures or symptoms similar to those of a brain tumor SeizuresA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Brain tumorA primary brain tumor is a group (mass) of abnormal cells that start in the brain.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Eyes -- decreased vision or blindness Heart -- abnormal heart rhythms or heart failure (rare) Abnormal heart rhythmsAn arrhythmia is a disorder of the heart rate (pulse) or heart rhythm. The heart can beat too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or irregul...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Heart failureHeart failure is a condition in which the heart is no longer able to pump oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body efficiently. This causes symptom...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Spine -- weakness or changes in walking due to damage to nerves in the spine Exams and Tests Tests that may be done include:Blood tests to detect antibodies to the parasite AntibodiesAn antibody is a protein produced by the body's immune system when it detects harmful substances, called antigens. Examples of antigens include micr...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Biopsy of the affected area BiopsyA biopsy is the removal of a small piece of tissue for laboratory examination.Read Article Now Book Mark Article CT scan, MRI scan, or x-rays to detect the lesion CTA computed tomography (CT) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create pictures of cross-sections of the body. Related tests include:Abdomin...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MRIA magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the body. It does not us...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article x-raysX-rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation, just like visible light. An x-ray machine sends individual x-ray waves through the body. The images...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Spinal tap (lumbar puncture) Test in which an ophthalmologist looks inside the eye Treatment Treatment may involve:Medicines to kill the parasites, such as albendazole or praziquantel Powerful anti-inflammatories (steroids) to reduce swellingIf the cyst is in the eye or brain, steroids should be started a few days before other medicines to avoid problems caused by swelling during antiparasitic treatment. Not all people benefit from antiparasitic treatment.Sometimes, surgery may be needed to remove the infected area. Outlook (Prognosis) The outlook is good, unless the lesion has caused blindness, heart failure, or brain damage. These are rare complications. Possible Complications Complications may include:Blindness, decreased vision Heart failure or abnormal heart rhythm Hydrocephalus (fluid buildup in part of the brain, often with increased pressure) HydrocephalusHydrocephalus is a buildup of fluid inside the skull that leads to the brain pushing against the skull. Hydrocephalus means "water on the brain. "...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Seizures When to Contact a Medical Professional If you have any symptoms of cysticercosis, contact your health care provider. Prevention Avoid unwashed foods, do not eat uncooked foods while traveling, and always wash fruits and vegetables well.Open ReferencesReferencesWhite AC, Brunetti E. Cestodes. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 325.White AC, Cabada MM, Fischer PR. Cysticercosis. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 349.AllVideoImagesTogDigestive system organs - illustration The digestive system organs in the abdominal cavity include the liver, gallbladder, stomach, small intestine and large intestine.Digestive system organsillustrationDigestive system organs - illustration The digestive system organs in the abdominal cavity include the liver, gallbladder, stomach, small intestine and large intestine.Digestive system organsillustrationRelated Information Cyst(Symptoms) Review Date: 12/31/2023 Reviewed By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
CysticercosisCysticercosis is an infection by a parasite called Taenia solium (T solium). It is a pork tapeworm that creates cysts in different areas of the body.CystsA cyst is a closed pocket or pouch of tissue. It can be filled with air, fluid, pus, or other material.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Cysticercosis is caused by swallowing eggs from T solium. The eggs are found in contaminated food. Autoinfection is when a person who is already infected with adult T solium swallows its eggs. This occurs due to improper hand washing after a bowel movement (fecal-oral transmission).Improper hand washingWashing your hands often during the day is an important way to help reduce the spread of germs and prevent illness. Learn when you should wash your ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Risk factors include eating pork, fruits, and vegetables contaminated with T solium as a result of undercooking or improper food preparation. The disease can also be spread by contact with infected feces.Improper food preparationFood poisoning occurs when you swallow food or water that contains bacteria, parasites, viruses, or the toxins made by these germs. Most cases are c...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The disease is rare in the United States. It is common in many developing countries. Symptoms Most often, the worms stay in muscles and do not cause symptoms.Symptoms occur depending on where the infection is found in the body:Brain -- seizures or symptoms similar to those of a brain tumor SeizuresA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Brain tumorA primary brain tumor is a group (mass) of abnormal cells that start in the brain.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Eyes -- decreased vision or blindness Heart -- abnormal heart rhythms or heart failure (rare) Abnormal heart rhythmsAn arrhythmia is a disorder of the heart rate (pulse) or heart rhythm. The heart can beat too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or irregul...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Heart failureHeart failure is a condition in which the heart is no longer able to pump oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body efficiently. This causes symptom...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Spine -- weakness or changes in walking due to damage to nerves in the spine Exams and Tests Tests that may be done include:Blood tests to detect antibodies to the parasite AntibodiesAn antibody is a protein produced by the body's immune system when it detects harmful substances, called antigens. Examples of antigens include micr...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Biopsy of the affected area BiopsyA biopsy is the removal of a small piece of tissue for laboratory examination.Read Article Now Book Mark Article CT scan, MRI scan, or x-rays to detect the lesion CTA computed tomography (CT) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create pictures of cross-sections of the body. Related tests include:Abdomin...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article MRIA magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the body. It does not us...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article x-raysX-rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation, just like visible light. An x-ray machine sends individual x-ray waves through the body. The images...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Spinal tap (lumbar puncture) Test in which an ophthalmologist looks inside the eye Treatment Treatment may involve:Medicines to kill the parasites, such as albendazole or praziquantel Powerful anti-inflammatories (steroids) to reduce swellingIf the cyst is in the eye or brain, steroids should be started a few days before other medicines to avoid problems caused by swelling during antiparasitic treatment. Not all people benefit from antiparasitic treatment.Sometimes, surgery may be needed to remove the infected area. Outlook (Prognosis) The outlook is good, unless the lesion has caused blindness, heart failure, or brain damage. These are rare complications. Possible Complications Complications may include:Blindness, decreased vision Heart failure or abnormal heart rhythm Hydrocephalus (fluid buildup in part of the brain, often with increased pressure) HydrocephalusHydrocephalus is a buildup of fluid inside the skull that leads to the brain pushing against the skull. Hydrocephalus means "water on the brain. "...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Seizures When to Contact a Medical Professional If you have any symptoms of cysticercosis, contact your health care provider. Prevention Avoid unwashed foods, do not eat uncooked foods while traveling, and always wash fruits and vegetables well.Open ReferencesReferencesWhite AC, Brunetti E. Cestodes. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 325.White AC, Cabada MM, Fischer PR. Cysticercosis. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 349.