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What is the Best Method of Tapeworm Removal?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

When a tapeworm is living in a person's intestinal tract, removal is usually pretty simple. A number of different medications can be taken to poison the worm, although this make take time. If infection has spread to other parts of the body, tapeworm removal is more difficult. Some medical professionals choose to remove such worms surgically.

Tapeworm infection can be mild to serious and some people have no symptoms at all. If a tapeworm lives in the intestinal tract, it may over time cause weight loss and other symptoms like diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain and fatigue. More importantly some worms may migrate to other areas of the body and make removal significantly more difficult.

Prescription medication may be the only course of treatment for tapeworm removal.
Prescription medication may be the only course of treatment for tapeworm removal.

For many cases of human tapeworm exposure, a tapeworm sets up shop in the intestines, and this type of infection is usually curable very easily. With medications like albendazole or praziquantel, tapeworms can be poisoned. Treatment can be lengthy and some people may need to remain on a medication for about three months in order to fully end infestation.

Proper hand washing helps prevent tapeworm reinfection.
Proper hand washing helps prevent tapeworm reinfection.

During treatment, personal hygiene is exceptionally important to avoid reinfecting the self with more tapeworms. Since eggs and larva may be excreted in bowel movements, it is essential that people wash the hands with warm soapy water for a good 30 seconds after each bathroom use. Typically when this protocol is followed, tapeworm eradication is fully successful.

Seeking treatment from a doctor is important to ensure proper tapeworm removal.
Seeking treatment from a doctor is important to ensure proper tapeworm removal.

This tapeworm removal treatment may be inadequate if worms have invaded other parts of the body causing cysts, which may grow in vital organs. The means to treating huge infections could be varied, and some doctors may opt to surgically remove worms or the cysts that they can cause. What tapeworm removal methods may be tried can be variable depending on the person’s age, size, and response to present treatment and likelihood of safe survival.

Undetected tapeworm infection can cause stomach pain.
Undetected tapeworm infection can cause stomach pain.

Tapeworm infestation is very serious. It’s not something that people should attempt to infect themselves with, as do some anorexics, or something that people should take lightly, if they believe they’re infected. Most of all people require a doctor’s care right away to get help in treating this condition so that it can cleared quickly and will not pose risk to serious diseases in the organs, especially the lungs, heart and brain.

A tapeworm is a parasite that lives in a host's intestines.
A tapeworm is a parasite that lives in a host's intestines.

Furthermore, there is no medical evidence that any home remedies suggested on the Internet or elsewhere can effect true tapeworm removal. Instead the standard and medically accepted method is to use one of the aforementioned medications and to practice very thorough hygiene while doing it to prevent reinfection or spread of the parasite to other individuals. With this treatment many people diagnosed in early stages of infection do well and provided they avoid sources of tapeworm infection in the future, remain free of the parasite.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent TheHealthBoard contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent TheHealthBoard contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

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    • Prescription medication may be the only course of treatment for tapeworm removal.
      By: Gang
      Prescription medication may be the only course of treatment for tapeworm removal.
    • Proper hand washing helps prevent tapeworm reinfection.
      By: Photographee.eu
      Proper hand washing helps prevent tapeworm reinfection.
    • Seeking treatment from a doctor is important to ensure proper tapeworm removal.
      By: Photographee.eu
      Seeking treatment from a doctor is important to ensure proper tapeworm removal.
    • Undetected tapeworm infection can cause stomach pain.
      By: Jeanette Dietl
      Undetected tapeworm infection can cause stomach pain.
    • A tapeworm is a parasite that lives in a host's intestines.
      By: 3drenderings
      A tapeworm is a parasite that lives in a host's intestines.
    • Tapeworm infection may lead to unintentional weight loss.
      By: jedi-master
      Tapeworm infection may lead to unintentional weight loss.