BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuTapeworm infection - hymenolepisHymenolepiasis; Dwarf tapeworm infection; Rat tapeworm; Tapeworm - infectionHymenolepis infection is an infestation by one of two species of tapeworm: Hymenolepis nana or Hymenolepis diminuta. The disease is also called hymenolepiasis. Causes Hymenolepis worms live in warm climates and are common in the southern United States. Insects eat the eggs of these worms.Humans and other animals become infected when they eat material contaminated by insects (including fleas associated with rats). In an infected person, it is possible for the worm's entire life cycle to be completed in the bowel, so infection can last for years.Hymenolepis nana infections are much more common than Hymenolepis diminuta infections in humans. These infections used to be common in the southeastern United States, in crowded environments, and in people who were confined to institutions. However, the disease occurs throughout the world. Symptoms Symptoms occur only with heavy infections. Symptoms include:Diarrhea Gastrointestinal discomfort Itchy anus Poor appetite Weakness Exams and Tests A stool exam for the tapeworm and its eggs confirms the diagnosis.Stool examStool ova and parasites exam is a lab test to look for parasites or eggs (ova) in a stool sample. The parasites are associated with intestinal infec...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment The treatment for this condition is a single dose of praziquantel, repeated in 10 days.Household members may also need to be screened and treated because the infection can be spread easily from person to person. Outlook (Prognosis) Expect full recovery following treatment. Possible Complications Health problems that may result from this infection include:Abdominal discomfort Dehydration from prolonged diarrheaDehydrationDehydration occurs when your body does not have as much water and fluids as it needs. Dehydration can be mild, moderate, or severe, based on how much...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your health care provider if you have chronic diarrhea or abdominal cramping. Prevention Good hygiene, public health and sanitation programs, and elimination of rats help prevent the spread of hymenolepiasis.Open ReferencesReferencesAlroy KA, Gilman RH. Tapeworm infections. In: Ryan ET, Hill DR, Solomon T, Aronson NE, Endy TP, eds. Hunter's Tropical Medicine and Emerging Infectious Disease. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 130.White AC, Brunetti E. Cestodes. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 325.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 Tapeworm infection - beef or pork(Condition)Dehydration(Condition) Review Date: 8/26/2023 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.
Tapeworm infection - hymenolepisHymenolepiasis; Dwarf tapeworm infection; Rat tapeworm; Tapeworm - infectionHymenolepis infection is an infestation by one of two species of tapeworm: Hymenolepis nana or Hymenolepis diminuta. The disease is also called hymenolepiasis. Causes Hymenolepis worms live in warm climates and are common in the southern United States. Insects eat the eggs of these worms.Humans and other animals become infected when they eat material contaminated by insects (including fleas associated with rats). In an infected person, it is possible for the worm's entire life cycle to be completed in the bowel, so infection can last for years.Hymenolepis nana infections are much more common than Hymenolepis diminuta infections in humans. These infections used to be common in the southeastern United States, in crowded environments, and in people who were confined to institutions. However, the disease occurs throughout the world. Symptoms Symptoms occur only with heavy infections. Symptoms include:Diarrhea Gastrointestinal discomfort Itchy anus Poor appetite Weakness Exams and Tests A stool exam for the tapeworm and its eggs confirms the diagnosis.Stool examStool ova and parasites exam is a lab test to look for parasites or eggs (ova) in a stool sample. The parasites are associated with intestinal infec...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment The treatment for this condition is a single dose of praziquantel, repeated in 10 days.Household members may also need to be screened and treated because the infection can be spread easily from person to person. Outlook (Prognosis) Expect full recovery following treatment. Possible Complications Health problems that may result from this infection include:Abdominal discomfort Dehydration from prolonged diarrheaDehydrationDehydration occurs when your body does not have as much water and fluids as it needs. Dehydration can be mild, moderate, or severe, based on how much...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your health care provider if you have chronic diarrhea or abdominal cramping. Prevention Good hygiene, public health and sanitation programs, and elimination of rats help prevent the spread of hymenolepiasis.Open ReferencesReferencesAlroy KA, Gilman RH. Tapeworm infections. In: Ryan ET, Hill DR, Solomon T, Aronson NE, Endy TP, eds. Hunter's Tropical Medicine and Emerging Infectious Disease. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 130.White AC, Brunetti E. Cestodes. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 325.