Tapeworm Question?

Question

What type of worms are in pork? i know tape worm but is it actually a worm or is it just an infection?

Answer 1

There are many types of worms infecting pigs. The most important are those which can infect humans through eating poorly cooked pork. They are : Trichinella spiralis, found as whitish small cysts in the muscles and the bladder worm of Taenia solium which when ingested will form the adult tape worm in the small intestine of humans.

Answer 2

tape worm is both

worms found in pork are trichina

Answer 3

It is actually a worm, just very small. Once you get some into you, it will count as an infection. If you cook pork well the worms and eggs will die.

Answer 4

Yes, it is an actual worm.  It is called an infection when the worms/larvae are inside a humans' body.

Here's some more specific information.

PORK TAPEWORM

(TAENIASIS, CYSTICERCOSIS)

What are taeniasis and cysticercosis?

Taeniasis is an intestinal infection with the adult stage of large tapeworms; cysticercosis is a tissue infection with the larval stage of the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium. Other Taenia species can occasionally cause cysticercosis as well.

How do you get these infections?

People get pork tapeworm from eating raw or undercooked infected pork. Infected pork

may look “measly” because it has larval cysts in the muscle. The larval cysts develop

into adult tapeworms in the person’s intestine and produce a large number of eggs.

Eggs are passed in the stool and are then spread through food, water, or surfaces

contaminated with f***s. People develop cysticercosis by swallowing these eggs. The

eggs hatch in the small intestine and larvae migrate to various tissues throughout the

body, where they form cysts. This is called cysticercosis. If the cysts are in the brain,

the condition is called neurocysticercosis.

Where are these infections found?

Tapeworms are found worldwide; however, infection is more common in countries

where pigs roam freely and eat human f***s. Pork tapeworm is very rare in Muslim

countries. Infection can occur even if you have never traveled outside the United

States.

What are the symptoms of infection?

Infections with adult tapeworms are often unnoticed. Occasionally a person may have

nervousness, anorexia, weight loss, and abdominal pain. Symptoms of cysticercosis

can be severe, depending on where the cysts form in the body.

· Muscle: Cysts in muscles usually do not cause symptoms, but lumps may be felt

under the skin.

· Eye: Cysts may float in the eye and cause blurred vision or a detached retina.

· Brain, spinal cord: Neurocysticercosis can cause seizures and headaches,

confusion, difficulty with balance, and death.

How soon after infections do symptoms appear?

Persons infected with adult tapeworms will have eggs in their stool 8 to 12 weeks after

initial infection. The adult tapeworm can live in the intestine and produce eggs for more

than 30 years. Symptoms of cysticercosis may appear from weeks to ten years or more

after infection, often when the larval cysts are dying.

How is infection with pork tapeworm diagnosed?

Infections are diagnosed by laboratory tests on stool specimens. Neurocysticercosis

may be diagnosed with MRI or CT brain scans.

How do you treat someone with cysticercosis?

Anti-parasitic and anti-inflammatory drugs are most often used. Surgery is necessary

for certain types of cysticercosis, but some infections may not require treatment.

How can I prevent pork tapeworm infection?

Prevent infection by never eating raw or undercooked pork and other meats. Always

wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet and before handling food,

especially when traveling in developing countries.