Learn About the Different Kinds of Tapeworms
You should already have some idea as to how difficult at times it may
become to combat the infectious conditions that tapeworm may cause in
our body. As the old saying goes, prevention is better than cure. It
verily applies in this regard as well. It is always wise to try prevent
the infection of tapeworm rather than allow it to act within our body
system. And, for that purpose of prevention of the tapeworm infection,
it is very important to know about the tapeworm types. A fair idea about
the different varieties or types of tapeworms will help you in keeping
this infection at bay.
Some of the most common types of tapeworms are the Taenia saginata
commonly called the beef tapeworm, Taenia solium commonly called the
pork tapeworm, Hymenolepis nana commonly called the rodent tapeworm,
Diphyllobothrium latum commonly called the fish tapeworm, Dipylidium
caninum or the dog tapeworm. There is also the dwarf tapeworm. Let us
now elaborate a little on some of these major tapeworm types.
Dipylidium caninum or the Dog Tapeworm
Dog tapeworm has the potential of infecting both the dogs as well as
the human beings. It is usually the little kids who are more susceptible
to infection from this type of tapeworm. It has usually been seen that
when children accidentally get to ingest things like louse or fleas that
are already infected with this tapeworm, those children get this
infection. One frightening aspect about the dog tapeworm infection is
that such tapeworms can even become almost two feet long at times.
Hymenolepis nana or Rodent Tapeworm
Just as is the case with the Dog Tapeworm, the rodent tapeworm too
may cause problem in animals and humans alike. Here also, there is some
sort of carrier acting as the intermediary between the tapeworm and the
humans. Some of the common such intermediaries are cockroaches, beetles,
and fleas. These carries carry the cysts of the tapeworms. They too can
become quite long. In some cases, it has been observed that this
particular type of tapeworm has grown around twenty inches long inside
some infected person’s intestine.
Taenia solium or Pork Tapeworm
This type of tapeworm is quite common in a vast part of the globe
including India, the Southeast Asia, South America, Mexico, China and
East Europe. North America is comparatively a safer place as far as
infection from this particular type of tapeworm is concerned. As is
quite evident from the name of these types of tapeworms themselves, they
come to human bodies from pork. Intake of infected pork that has also
not been cooked in the ideal manner usually results in spread and
infection from this tapeworm. Apart form this; the pork tapeworm
infection also happens by intake of some contaminated food or drinking
unsafe and contaminated water. It may also happen when someone touches a
substance that contains cyst of the tapeworm and then touches his own
mouth, etc.
Pork tapeworm can grow immensely long inside one’s intestine. There
have been instances where it has grown as long as twenty-one feet inside
the infected person’s intestine. It is also one of the most dreaded
types of tapeworms. Once it settles in someone’s intestine, it tends to
create hole in the intestine. From there, the tapeworm goes into the
bloodstream.
Blood carries it to different parts of the body and it thus causes
damage to vital parts like the eyes, spinal cord, muscle and even the
brain. It thus is a very threatening kind of tapeworm.The Beef Tapeworm
or Taenia saginata too is a dangerous type of tapeworm as it also
commonly infects humans. It comes from undercooked beef and can become
as long as twenty five feet in human intestine. |
