TAPEWORMS

WHAT IS A TAPEWORM?

• It is a parasitic flatworm.
• The adult of which lives in the intestine of humans and other vertebrates.
• The tapeworms have a ribbonlike structure with many segments that can become independent.
• It also has a small head bearing hooks and suckers.

WHAT IS THE LIFE CYCLE OF A TAPEWORM?

• The life cycle of a tapeworm starts with a human eating undercooked, infected meat.
• The tapeworm will then grow and release small packages of fertilized eggs and sperm.
• These packages are excreted by the host.
• If they happen to land in grass, for instance, the package will open.
• By that time, the tape worm eggs will have developed either inside the human or outside.

TIPS ON HOW TO PREVENT TAPEWORMS WHILE COOKING

• The best way to prevent tapeworms are by making sure your food is
• cooked properly and throughly, making sure nothing is raw or
• too undercooked.

HOW TO PREVENT TAPEWORMS WHEN IN CONTACT W/ PETS

• Try to keep your pet from coming in conact with other pets that might have tapeworms.
• Because fleas are an intermediate host of some common known tapeworms, it will
• also be advised to look out for any fleas that your pet might have.

HOW TO PREVENT TAPEWORMS (PERSONAL HYGIENE)

• Another way to make sure youre tapeworm free is to be very hygienic.
• The most common known way of prevention is by making sure you: wash
• your hands before and after handling rany food, especially raw meat or fish, before
• eating and after using the toilet.

TAPEWORM INFECTION IN HUMANS

• Weakness
• Nausea
• Hunger or loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Abdominal pain

TREATMENT FOR TAPEWORM INFECTION IN HUMANS

• The first thing you should do if you think you have a tapeworm infection is
• head to a doctor. There are a variety of treatments for different types of
• tapeworms. Since that is so, diagnosing a tapeworm infection may
• require a stool sample to identify the type of worm. The most common
• treatment is medication taken by mouth that will be prescribed to you.