Teniosis is an intestinal helminthic invasion in which pork tapeworm parasitizes in the body. The disease is accompanied by a violation of digestion, appetite, abdominal pain, fainting conditions. The general state of health suffers, and there is also a risk of damage to the eyes and brain.
Helminthiasis of this species is manifested independently of the geographical area, including Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltic states. The above regions account for about 30% of infected livestock, which causes many people to suffer.
The appearance and development of helminth
The tape parasite, called Taenia solium, has a flat, long body, neck and head with hooks and suction cups, with which pork tapeworm is attached to the intestinal wall. The length of the adult reaches 4 meters. The flat body is divided into rectangular segments (about 1000 pieces), each of which contains from 30 to 50 thousand helminth eggs.
Matured segments are rejected and, together with feces, spread in the external environment. To complete the development cycle, the helminth needs to change two hosts. Staying in the pig’s body, where Taenia solium enters with contaminated feed and land, is only an intermediate stage in the development of the parasite. Sometimes its owners are dogs, cats, monkeys.
Penetrating into the digestive organs, the oncospheres leave the eggs, which are scattered throughout the body through the bloodstream. Then the embryos of pork tapeworm are concentrated in muscle tissue and converted into cysticercus (Finn). In the next step, Taenia solium looks like a bubble with a head inside. For humans, both cysteras and adults are a serious danger.
In the animal’s body, tapeworm is able to live up to 6 years, after which it dies due to calcination processes. In the human body, Taenia solium provokes a disease such as cysticercosis. In adulthood, the parasite is able to live in the body for several decades. In the external environment, eggs remain for about several months.
Infection process
The main ways of infection with teniosis: water and food.
Finns enter the human body due to insufficiently thermally processed product (less than 60 minutes of exposure), as well as when using pork meat that has not passed sanitary examination. In rare cases, the causative agent of teniosis enters the body through contaminated hands or running water.
The infection process includes the following stages of the disease:
- damage to the small intestine by suction cups and hooks;
- provoking an allergic reaction by the worm's vital products;
- deficiency of nutrients absorbed by pork chain (glucose, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins).
In the process of development of helminth, the Finnish head comes out and attaches to the intestinal wall. After such fixation of the worm, its active growth begins with the addition of new segments of its body.
Symptoms of pork tapeworm infection
As a result of the depletion of the body, a deficiency of nutrients occurs, constant hunger is felt, and dysfunctions of its activity occur.
A sick person is a danger in terms of infection of others, as well as self-infection. There is a risk of cysticercosis in the organs of vision, the brain, and skeletal muscles.
If untreated, symptoms of teniosis include dyspeptic, abdominal, and astheno-neurotic syndromes. Signs of the disease are an occasion to contact a parasitologist.
Symptoms of teniosis within 1.5-2 months:
- violation of the stool;
- itching in the anus;
- abdominal pain (aching or paroxysmal);
- change in appetite (increase, weakening);
- nausea with vomiting;
- weight loss.
Astheno-neurotic syndrome, signs:
- sleep disorder;
- headache;
- dizziness;
- nervous irritability;
- fainting conditions.
The presence of pork tapeworm (teniosis) is not necessarily felt in the body, and its obvious signs may be absent altogether.
Complications
Possible complications of teniosis:
- iron deficiency anemia and eosinophilia;
- intestinal obstruction;
- acute intestinal inflammation;
- cholangitis, pancreatitis.
The main complication is bowel obstruction. In the process of therapy and deworming, there is a risk of problems associated with the large size of the parasite. It is not known which path the parasite will choose: oral or anal.
Cysticercosis
In some cases, when vomiting occurs, tapeworm segments enter the stomach. If treatment is not applied by this time, the symptoms of teniosis suggest damage to the skin, muscle tissue and organs: the brain, heart, lungs. Sections resembling a tumor swell under the skin: inside there is an accumulation of cysts - worm larvae.
In 60% of cases of the disease, cysticercosis of the nervous system is confirmed. The victim complains of sensory impairment, paroxysmal headaches, and changes in speech. Cysticercosis is a prerequisite for diseases such as epilepsy, depression, delusional hallucinatory ideas.
If the larvae penetrate the brain (often into the fourth ventricle), then along with vomiting and headaches the patient has a change in consciousness, head turns, malfunctions in the functioning of the heart.
With cysticercosis of the eye, the conjunctiva, the anterior chamber, the retina and the vitreous of the eye are affected. Destructive changes, retinal detachment, atrophy of the eyeball, and loss of vision occur in tissues.
The pulmonary form of cysticercosis is detected by radiography. With cardiac invasion, a heart rhythm malfunction is observed. In case of damage to the skin, purulent foci develop.
Diagnostics
Based on the patient's complaints, the doctor further clarifies the following facts:
- the presence of helminth segments in the feces;
- eating insufficiently thermally processed products from pork meat;
- taste testing of minced meat during cooking.
Laboratory tests include microscopic examination of feces and perianal scraping. In order to accurately identify the helminth, identification of the mature forms of the parasite is necessary.
Laboratory analysis allows you to identify a larger number of branches of larvae in bovine tapeworm, as opposed to pork, so that you can prescribe the correct drugs. The study of feces must be carried out several times, since the number of secreted segments is uneven.
Exclusion of other helminthiases
In order to avoid incorrect treatment, the symptoms of teniosis must be clarified by excluding other intestinal helminthiases, Crohn's disease, cholecystitis, gastroenteritis.
Immunological methods are auxiliary, of which enzymatic, designed for tapeworm antigens in blood and feces, is quite common. When analyzing teniosis by means of immunoelectrophoresis, it is possible to detect antibodies to invasion, but the diagnosis is difficult in the presence of other helminths in the body.
If extraintestinal forms of helminthiosis are suspected, specialists such as a neurologist, pulmonologist, optometrist, dermatologist, and cardiologist are involved in therapy.
To confirm the diagnosis, craniography, computed tomography of the brain, cerebrospinal cerebrospinal fluid examination, ophthalmoscopy and biomicroscopy, lung radiography, histological examination of the skin, ECG are used.
To identify the appropriate antibodies, serological studies are prescribed:
- RNGA;
- RSK;
- NRIF;
- IFA;
- Ultrasound
When diagnosing cysticercosis of the brain, they differentiate into echinococcosis and neoplasms of the central nervous system.
Treatment
With confirmed symptoms of teniosis, treatment is carried out exclusively in a hospital setting.
Anthelmintic remedies for teniosis are designed to destroy eggs and adult parasites. Usually a single dose of the drug gives a satisfactory result. Its use provokes the exit of segments to the outside.
Medications for getting rid of Taenia solium:
- "Niclosamide";
- Praziquantel (Biltricid);
- Aldazole
- "Nemazole";
- "Mebendazole".
According to the instructions for use of "Niklosamide" a couple of hours after taking the drug, the patient should drink a saline laxative. This approach contributes to the accelerated elimination of dead parasites from the body.
In the treatment of neurocysticercosis with the destruction of Finn, inflammatory reactions occur in the body. In the case of this form of the disease, the long-term course of treatment is indicated in the instructions for use of Praziquantel or Niklozamide. The dosage of the drug depends on the severity of the defeat of helminthiasis.
"Praziquantel", instructions for use:
- Treatment of cestodoses is carried out by means of 10-25 mg / kg of the active substance once. For cysticercosis: 50 mg / kg in 3 divided doses; course of treatment: up to 4 days.
- With helminthiasis, provoked by parasites in the veins of the abdominal cavity, the treatment regimen has two methods: calculate the dose of 0.04 g / kg of weight and take it once; reception 2 times a day with an interval of 6 hours at a dose of 0.02 g / kg of body weight.
In the case of a single dose, the tablet is taken in the evening with an interval of 4, not exceeding 6 hours. For those whose work is related to driving a car, controlling complex mechanisms, it is necessary to pay increased attention when treating with Praziquantel.
"Niclosamide", instructions for use:
- "Niclosamide" (up to 3 g per day) is taken once, on an empty stomach, in the morning. It is recommended to drink tablets with a 0.5% soda solution. The exact dose of the medicine will be determined by a specialist taking into account the age, weight and other indicators of the patient, including possible diseases.
- 2 hours after taking "Niclosamide" when driving the tapeworm, a salt laxative is prescribed. The treatment lasts about 4 days. After two weeks, it is worth checking the results, and if necessary, repeat the procedure.
In recent years, with the diagnosis of teniosis (pork tapeworm), "Fenasal" or "Vermox" is prescribed. The use of a laxative or diet is not required.
As supporting drugs, the patient is prescribed the following funds:
- glucocorticosteroids;
- antiepileptic drugs.
In complex cases, such as eye and brain damage, surgery is indicated in addition to etiotropic therapy.
Natural remedies
In order to get rid of teniosis, it is possible to supplement drug therapy with natural means:
- pumpkin seeds (the active substance is mucubitin);
- male fern extract (phenols in the composition).
Plant substances are able to paralyze the muscle tissue of the worm, after which it does not stick to the walls of the digestive organs. Difficulties arise in determining the dose of phytochemicals.
The treatment regimen is to:
- two days before the use of the drug, provide easily digestible food;
- then, on the first day of therapy, get fern extract or pumpkin seeds;
- three hours later, a laxative;
- an hour later - a light breakfast.
Upon completion of treatment, patients are recommended for follow-up for two years. A similar precaution is indicated based on the likelihood of reinfestation.
Features of fern treatment
The treatment lasts three days. The diet at this time is limited. On the second day after dinner, the patient should take a laxative.
On the third day, the patient after applying a cleansing enema drinks three capsules of fern extract with an interval of three minutes. After an hour, you need to take a laxative. If there is no stool for three hours, an enema is again given.
It should be borne in mind that fern extract is toxic to a certain extent, therefore, it is prescribed with caution by doctors. For the treatment and prevention of the intestinal form of teniosis, pumpkin seed is considered more sparing. If eye or brain damage occurs, the prognosis depends on the magnitude of the infection.
Features of pumpkin seed treatment
Therapy is carried out according to two recipes.
The first way. Pour boiling water over 300 g of seeds, sweeten with honey and consume within an hour. Then after 3 hours you need to take a laxative. At the end - put an enema.
The second way. 500 g of seeds pour a liter of boiling water and simmer in a water bath for two hours. The prepared remedy must be taken within half an hour, and after two hours - drink a laxative.
Prevention of teniosis
The following preventative measures are recommended:
- to purchase pork meat only in retail outlets with established veterinary control, to avoid purchases in natural markets;
- check the stamp on the meat and the veterinary certificate;
- cooking pork for a long time;
- avoid tasting raw minced meat;
- undergo regular examinations for those who care for the pigs;
- wash hands after going to the toilet, contact with animals, earth;
- if teniosis is detected, undergo timely treatment.
In order to improve the quality of products on pig farms, TSOL18 is being vaccinated and sanitary conditions are being improved.
Immunity Recovery
The parasite living in the body actively absorbs nutrients: minerals, vitamins, enzymes. Therefore, a person is constantly missing something to maintain health.
At the recovery stage after invasion, there is a need for antihistamine therapy aimed at eliminating the negative effects of the disease, allergic reactions. To restore the function of the gastrointestinal tract, drugs are needed that inhibit anemic manifestations during helminth invasion.
It is necessary to make sure that vegetables and fruits are present in the diet, take vitamin complexes as prescribed by the doctor.