Guide Note

Cysticercosis is a parasitic infection that results from ingestion of pork or bovine tapeworm cysts in undercooked meat, or tapeworm eggs from fecal contamination of food or water. The disease is common in third world countries where pigs have access to human feces allowing the tapeworm to complete their life cycle.¹ ²

Fast Facts

Also known as: Taenia solium or pork tapeworm
Rare in the United States
Rare in Islamic countries²

Life Cycle

The disease begins with the ingestion of pork or bovine tapeworm cysts in undercooked meat, or tapeworm eggs from fecal contamination of food. After ingestion of eggs the tapeworm hatches in the intestine and crosses into the blood stream through the intestinal wall. From the intestine the larva may go to the tissue under the skin, the muscle, or the central nervous system. This crossing of the intestinal wall may happen in both humans or animals. If it happens in pigs or cows the the larval cysts that develop in muscle may be ingested and develop into an adult tapeworm in human intestines. The adult tapeworm sheds eggs into the feces and the cycle begins again. ¹

Disclaimer

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you think you have cysticercosis, please consult your doctor.

Categories

Health | Diseases | Womens Health | Mens Health | Childhood Diseases

View Note History

Cysticercosis

The Mahalo Top 7

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Cysticercosis
eMedicine: Cysticercosis
Wikipedia: Cysticercosis
MedlinePlus: Medical Encyclopedia: Cysticercosis
ScienceDaily: Poor Americans Suffer Hidden Burden Of Parasitic... (January 1, 2008)
World Health Organization (WHO): Taeniasis/Cysticercosis
Merck Manual: Taeniasis solium and Cysticercosis

Cysticercosis News

Topix: Cysticercosis News Search
WorldNetDaily: Rare Brain Worms Latest Border Disease (January 13, 2007)
CDC: Deaths from Cysticercosis, United States (February 24, 2007)
Reuters: Worms Infect More Poor Americans Than Thought (December 25, 2007)

Cysticercosis Facts

California Department of Public Health: Cysticercosis
University of Maryland Medical Center: Cysticercosis
WebMD: Cysticercosis
AboutKidsHealth: Cysticercosis: How a Parasitic Infection Causes Seizures
The New York Times: Cysticercosis

Cysticercosis Causes, Symptoms and Complications

MedlinePlus: Medical Encyclopedia: Cysticercosis - Causes | Symptoms | Possible Complications
University of Maryland Medical Center: Cysticercosis - Symptoms
eMedicine: Cysticercosis - Clinical

Cysticercosis Treatment Options

MedlinePlus: Medical Encyclopedia: Cysticercosis - Treatment
eMedicine: Cysticercosis - Treatment | Medication

Cysticercosis Prevention

MedlinePlus: Cysticercosis Prevention
University of Maryland Medical Center: Cysticercosis Prevention

Cysticercosis Scientific and Medical Journal Articles

Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA): Cysticercosis
PubMed Central: Cysticercosis
Google Scholar Search: Cysticercosis
American Journal of Neuroradiology: Cerebral Cysticercosis With Reference... (1983)

Cysticercosis Research and Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Cysticercosis
CenterWatch: Cysticercosis

Cysticercosis Discussion and Blogs

Google Blog Search: Cysticercosis
Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasites: Cysticercosis: Answer to Case 6 (January 24, 2008)
Oasis of Health & Wellness Blog: Parasitic Infections on the Rise in the U.S. (December 25, 2007)

Related Searches

Neurocysticercosis | Tapeworm | Parasitic Infection | Ringworm | Ocular Cysticercosis

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