How Tapeworm Infection Is Treated - Verywell Health

Treatment for a tapeworm infection will include medications that target the worm. Medications may differ based on the type of tapeworm involved, such as the beef tapeworm (Taenia saginata), pork tapeworm (Taenia solium), fish tapeworm (Diphyllobothrium latum), Asian tapeworm (Taenia asiatica), and dwarf tapeworm (Hymenolepis nana).

Verywell / Emily Roberts

It's important to take the medication as prescribed and to follow directions to avoid reinfection during and after treatment. For an infection with the pork tapeworm, if a more serious condition called cysticercosis has occurred, medications may be given to treat symptoms and in some cases surgery may be needed.

Prescriptions

Praziquantel

Praziquantel (Biltricide) is one medication used to treat tapeworm infection. It is an antiparasitic drug that belongs to a class of drugs known as antihelmintics. To treat an infection with a tapeworm, one dose of praziquantel is given.

Tapeworms attach themselves to the blood vessels in the wall of the intestine. Praziquantel works to clear the infection by paralyzing the worms, who then detach from the intestinal wall and then pass through the intestine and out of the body through the anus with a bowel movement.

Praziquantel tablets should be taken whole (unless breaking a tablet is necessary for dosage), not crushed, because they have a bitter taste and will be easier to cope with if swallowed whole. They should also be taken with a meal and a full glass of water.

Side Effects of Praziquantel

• headache
• abdominal pain
• nausea and vomiting
• fatigue or weakness
• fever
• sweating
• joint or muscle pain
• skin rash
• loss of appetite

Allergic reactions to praziquantel are rare, but symptoms of an allergic reaction such as hives, itching, dizziness, trouble breathing, or swelling of the throat or tongue are a reason to seek medical attention right away.

Praziquantel interacts with grapefruit, so people receiving this drug shouldn't eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while taking it.

Praziquantel is pregnancy category B, meaning that studies have been done in animals, but not in humans, and the drug is not expected to affect a fetus. However, it should only be used in pregnant women when clearly needed, and pregnant women should talk to their doctors before receiving this drug in order to make an informed decision. This drug does pass into breast milk and pausing breastfeeding for three days (72 hours) after the last dose is usually recommended.

This drug may cause dizziness or tiredness and people taking it should avoid driving and drinking alcohol because that may increase these effects.

Tell a physician about any other drugs or supplements because they may affect the effectiveness of praziquantel, including:

• Anti-seizure medications such as Carbatrol (carbamazepine, Equetro, Tegretol), Dilantin (phenytoin), Felbatol (felbamate), Mysoline (primidone), phenobarbital, Trileptal (asoxcarbazepine)
• Aralen (chloroquine)
• Azole antifungals (itraconazole, ketoconazole)
• Barbiturates such as Amytal (amobarbital), Butisol (butabarbital), Mebaral (mephobarbital), Seconal (secobarbital), or Solfoton (phenobarbital)
• Decadron (Hexadrol, dexamethasone)
• Erythrocin (erythromycin (E.E.S., EryPed, Ery-Ta)
• HIV treatments, including Sustiva (efavirenz, Atripla), Intelence (etravirine), Viramune (nevirapine), or Norvir (ritonavir, Kaletra)
• Ketozole (ketoconazole, Extina, Nizoral, Xolegal)
• Mycobutin (rifabutin) 
• Priftin (rifapentine)
• St. John's wort
• Sleep disorder medications, including Nuvigil (armodafinil) or Progivil (modafinil)
• Sporanox (itraconazole)
• Tagamet (cimetidine) 

Alinia

Another medication, Alinia (nitazoxanide), is used in cases of infection with the Dwarf tapeworm (H nana). Alinia is an antiprotozoal drug that may be dispensed as a tablet or as a liquid suspension. It should be taken just after having a light meal and the liquid preparation should be shaken well before dispensing.

Before taking Alinia, tell the physician about any other diseases or conditions, especially diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, HIV infection, or an immune system disease.

Side Effects of Alinia

• abdominal pain
• headache
• nausea
• diarrhea
• vomiting
• temporary discoloration of the urine

Any symptoms of an allergic reaction such as hives, itching, a rash, or swelling of the mouth and tongue is reason to seek medical attention right away.

Alinia has been studied in animals but not in pregnant humans and is classified as pregnancy category B because the risk to the embryo-fetus is unknown. It should only be used during pregnancy when clearly needed, and pregnant women should discuss the benefits and risks of this medication with their doctors before receiving it. It's not known if Alinia passes into breast milk and the effect on a nursing baby is unknown.

Prescribing information recommends against taking Alinia while also taking Coumadin (warfarin). Tell a physician about any other drugs or supplements because they may affect the effectiveness of Alinia, including:

• Aspirin
• Bumex (bumetanide)
• Cleocin (Clindesse, clindamycin)
• Coumadin (Jantoven warfarin)
• Depakene (Stavzor, valproic acid)
• Diabeta (Glynase, glyburide)
• Diamox Sequels (acetazolamide)
• Dilantin (Phenytek, phenytoin)
• Glucotrol (glipizide)
• Hygroton (Thalitone, chlorthalidone)
• Platinol (cisplatin)
• Prograf (Astagraf XL, tacrolimus)
• Soriatane (acitretin)
• Oncovin (Vincasar PFS, vincristine)

Treatment of Cysticercosis

Cysticercosis is a complication of infection with the pork tapeworm (T. solium). When a human ingests the eggs of the pork tapeworm, either through contaminated food, water, or from another person, the eggs can form spheres called oncospheres.

Oncospheres may travel out of the intestine and through the body. They might then take up residence in the brain, the muscles, the eyes, under the skin, or in other organs, and form cysts. These cysts may or may not require treatment.

When cysts form in the brain (causing a condition called neurocysticercosis), seizures could result. Antiparasitic medications that kill the cysts will be given, but other drugs might also be necessary. When the tapeworm cysts die upon treatment there may be inflammation that requires treatment with an anti-inflammatory such as prednisone (a corticosteroid). An anticonvulsant might be needed in order to prevent seizures. For cysts in the spinal cord or the eye, antiparasitics are not given because of a risk of inflammation that may damage tissues in those areas.

After Treatment

To ensure that the tapeworm infection has cleared, a physician will order stool tests. This test will screen for worms, eggs, or proglottids in the stool to ensure that further treatment isn't needed or that reinfection hasn't occurred.

Reinfection is a risk, so washing hands properly and following other recommendations from a physician in regards to cooking food is important. In the case of neurocysticercosis, follow-up may include imaging tests and other treatments as necessary.

It's important to keep follow-up appointments and get all the recommended testing done.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell if I have a tapeworm?

It's likely you can't. Most tapeworms do not cause symptoms, although some people experience general digestive issues such as an upset stomach and diarrhea or, over time, weight loss and malnutrition. The most obvious sign of a tapeworm infection is finding actual tapeworms or segments of worms (called proglottids) in your stool.

How hard is it to get rid of tapeworms?

Once diagnosed, it's relatively easy to clear up a tapeworm infection with a single dose of an anthelminthic medication that destroys parasitic worms: typically Biltricide (praziquantel) or, for a dwarf tapeworm infection, Alinia (nitazoxanide).

Are there any foods that kill tapeworms?

None that have been proven in clinical trials. However, in animal studies, papaya seed extract has shown promise as an anthelminthic against Hymenolepsis nana, a common tapeworm.If you think you may have been exposed to a tapeworm, however, don't rely on eating papaya or papaya seeds: They won't hurt you, but it will take medication to get rid of a tapeworm if you are infected.

Can tapeworms be removed surgically?

It isn't necessary to have surgery to get rid of tapeworms. However, surgery may be necessary to treat cysticercosis—to remove cysts blocking the flow of cerebrospinal fluid or relieve problems in the spinal cord or eyes caused by cysts.

How can I protect myself and my family from tapeworms?

Wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling food, using the bathroom, and changing diapers. Also, follow these guidelines for cooking:

• Cook whole cuts of meat (beef, pork, lamb—any animal products except poultry) until they reach a temperature of at least 145 degrees.
• Cook ground meat to at least 160 degrees.
• Let whole cuts of meat rest for at least three minutes after cooking to allow the residual heat to continue killing any pathogens.
• Do not serve freshwater fish raw.
• Only eat freshwater fish that has been cooked to a temperature of 145 degrees or has been properly frozen at temperatures below that of a typical home freezer.

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