Cysticercosis is a parasitic infection caused by swallowing eggs from the Taenia solium tapeworm. Symptoms may include headaches, seizures, muscle weakness, or vision loss, depending on where the larvae settle in the body.
People who have an adult Taenia solium tapeworm in their intestines usually do not develop cysticercosis themselves. However, they can pass tapeworm eggs in their stool, which may contaminate food or water and infect other people if swallowed.
Anyone who may have cysticercosis should consult an infectious disease specialist. Specific treatment is not always necessary, but a doctor may recommend antiparasitic medication or surgery in some cases.
Main symptoms
The main symptoms of cysticercosis include:
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Headache or eye pain;
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Seizures;
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Nausea and/or vomiting;
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Muscle weakness in certain parts of the body;
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Rapid heartbeat and palpitations;
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Difficulty seeing, vision loss, or double vision;
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Swelling and/or increased sensitivity in the skin or muscles.
Cysticercosis symptoms vary depending on how many tapeworm larvae enter the body after the eggs are swallowed and where the larvae settle.
Although the larvae can settle in any part of the body, symptoms are generally more frequent and severe when the brain, eyes, or spinal cord are affected. Larvae that settle in the muscles or heart tend to cause few or no symptoms.
Symptoms of cerebral cysticercosis
The main symptoms of cerebral cysticercosis, also known as neurocysticercosis, are headaches and seizures. These symptoms may appear months or even years after infection, usually when the larvae begin to die.
In some cases, confusion, nausea, and/or vomiting may also occur, especially if complications such as hydrocephalus or encephalitis develop.
How a diagnosis is confirmed
Cysticercosis is usually diagnosed by an infectious disease specialist or primary care physician. The doctor may order imaging tests, such as an ultrasound or CT scan, as well as blood or cerebrospinal fluid tests to look for signs of the parasite in the body.
Difference between taeniasis and cysticercosis
Taeniasis is an intestinal infection caused by an adult tapeworm. It is acquired by eating undercooked meat that contains the mature larval form of the parasite, known as a cysticercus.
Cysticercosis, on the other hand, develops when a person swallows Taenia solium eggs. The eggs release immature larvae that travel through the body, where cysticerci can develop in different tissues.
Taeniasis and cysticercosis are different diseases, although both are caused by Taenia tapeworms. Taenia solium is generally associated with pork, while Taenia saginata is associated with beef. Only Taenia solium eggs cause cysticercosis.
Cysticercosis life cycle
People develop cysticercosis by swallowing water or food contaminated with Taenia solium eggs. In the gastrointestinal tract, the eggs hatch and release larvae that can pass through the intestinal wall, enter the bloodstream, and settle in tissues such as the brain, muscles, or eyes.
Cysticercosis can therefore spread when a person with taeniasis, an intestinal infection caused by an adult tapeworm, passes tapeworm eggs in their stool. These eggs may contaminate food or water that is later consumed by other people or animals.
How cysticercosis is treated
Cysticercosis treatment should be supervised by an infectious disease specialist. Treatment depends on the location and severity of the infection, as well as the person’s overall health, and medication to eliminate the parasite is not always necessary.
In some cases, a doctor may prescribe antiparasitic medications such as albendazole or praziquantel. Anti-inflammatory medication may also be used, and surgery may sometimes be necessary to remove cysticerci from the body.
People with cerebral cysticercosis may also need anticonvulsant medication to control seizures, if present.
How to prevent cysticercosis
The following measures can help prevent cysticercosis:
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Wash hands with soap and water after using the bathroom, changing diapers, or handling food;
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Wash and peel fruits and vegetables before eating them;
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Avoid consuming food or water in places where hygiene conditions are questionable;
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Choose bottled water or water that has been boiled for at least 1 minute.
It is also important to teach children proper hygiene practices, including the importance of washing their hands, to help prevent infections caused by parasites.