By Tisha Boston
The thought of worms lying around inside of us, filling themselves greedily with everything that we consume is disturbing, but unfortunately it’s true. For example, let’s consider tapeworms also known as cestodes; these freeloaders are flat segmented worms that live in the intestines of animals. They use their head, called the scolex, to attach themselves to the intestinal wall. There are different types of tapeworms, but the two most common in humans are Taenia saginata, the beef tapeworm which is about 15 to 30 feet long, and Taenia solium, the pork tapeworm that is approximately 8 to 11 feet long. Their eggs can survive for months or years in the environment and adult pork tapeworms can live up to 25 years inside us while adult beef tapeworms can live for more than 30 years.
Humans become infected with tapeworms when eating undercooked meat from infected animals or when eating foods prepared by an infected person. The symptoms of a tapeworm infection, also known as taeniasis, are mild to nonexistent. However, infected individuals often experience digestive problems which include abdominal pain, loss of appetite, weight loss, and upset stomach. These symptoms are also common for other parasites living within us. And last, but not least, the most visible symptom would be the passing of tapeworm segments (proglottids) in the feces.
Taeniasis is more prevalent in underdeveloped communities with poor sanitation and where people eat undercooked meat. This means that higher rates of illness can be found in South and Central America, Sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia. Although tapeworm infection is rare in the U.S, Taenia solium taeniasis (tapeworm infection from pork) is seen typically among Latin American immigrants. Strict laws on feeding practices and constant inspections of hospitals, restaurants and animals we use for food lower the risk of exposure to such parasites, but here are some things that you can do to prevent or control tapeworm infection and other human parasites:
• Cook fish and meat thoroughly and do not sample them until they are cooked, instead; use a food thermometer to measure the internal temperature. For whole cut meat, cook to at least 145° F (63° C) then allow it to rest for about 3 minutes before carving into it; for gound meat, cook to at least 160° F (71° C)
• Periodic deworming as recommended by a doctor. This also includes your pets
• Avoid walking barefoot
• Keep nails clean and wash hands regularly using soap and relatively hot water
• When traveling to underdeveloped countries, cook fruits and vegetables with boiled or chemically treated water.
Please keep in mind that the purpose of this article was not to scare or provoke uneasiness, but to provide awareness of the kind of freeloaders within us and the harmful consequences of poor hygiene and improper meal preparation as well as the risks associated with unsanitary living conditions. In knowing this, responsible actions can therefore be taken by individuals and society to prevent tapeworm infestation.
