Dorothy FarrarZwergbandwurm (Hymenolepis nana)
Infections with a dwarf tapeworm (Hymenolepis nana) are very common in tropical and subtropical regions. An infestation causes gastrointestinal complaints and has an infection-like course.
What is a dwarf tapeworm?
The dwarf tapeworm (Hygmenolepis nana) belongs to the tapeworm genus and is a parasite . It reaches a length of about four to six centimeters and colonizes the intestine . It absorbs food through the skin . The dwarf tapeworm does not require an intermediate host, so it can be transmitted directly from animals to humans.
It has hooks or suction cups on its head with which it can attach itself to the intestinal wall. Its eggs are oval or round in shape and have a smooth, thin shell. Inside is the so-called oncosphere. This is surrounded by a membrane with filaments and swellings. The limbs of the tapeworm have both male and female sex organs, so the dwarf tapeworm is a so-called hermaphrodite.
causes
The most common cause of tapeworm spread is contaminated water or food . Due to poor hygiene and the fact that the tapeworm develops without an intermediate host, self-infection can occur constantly. A person infested with a dwarf tapeworm will pass the tapeworm eggs in their stool. If the hygienic conditions are poor, it is possible that the eggs get into drinking water or food and subsequently back into the human digestive tract .After the larva has hatched in the intestine, it migrates into the intestinal mucosa or into the interior of the intestine, where it then develops into a sexually mature worm and lays eggs again. In this way, those affected can constantly infect themselves. Children are very often affected, with the infection occurring primarily via a smear infection . In children, the infection is not transmitted through contaminated water or food, but through touching an object or a person.
Children put many things in their mouths, so tapeworm eggs can also come from their own feces. By eating animal feces, insects can also ingest the fertilized eggs. The insect is rendered sterile by the tapeworm larvae, so its energy supply can be used solely for larval development. Insects that are infected can then pass the Hymenolepis nana on to pets or humans.
symptoms and course
Typical symptoms of the dwarf tapeworm (Hymenolepis nana):
Very often no typical symptoms can be identified. Gastrointestinal problems only occur with a very strong dwarf tapeworm infection. In addition, it can lead to intestinal inflammation . In addition, the tapeworm gives off toxic metabolites, which can cause various allergies . The symptoms are particularly severe in people with a weak immune system or who are undernourished . If the disease drags on for years, there is a strong loss of weight, since nutrients are massively absorbed from the chyme.
Diagnose
Often there are no symptoms at all in the event of an infestation. Sometimes those affected suffer from gastrointestinal problems, but these are very minor, so that an exact diagnosis often cannot be made immediately. In order to be able to detect a dwarf tapeworm, it is necessary to examine a stool sample in the laboratory. If the infestation is very severe, tissue atrophy of the intestinal villi can occur, which triggers intestinal inflammation.
Sometimes individual members of the tapeworm also detach and are then recognizable in the stool. These contain infectious eggs that should not be touched. They can survive in air for up to ten days.
treatment and therapy
A dwarf tapeworm is treated with a 7-day course. The medication administered must be taken once a day after breakfast. The tablets are chewed and then swallowed. It is also advisable to ingest acidic fruit juices, since the Hymenolepis nana can be found under a layer of mucus, which becomes more permeable as a result. In addition, existing constipation should be eliminated before the start of therapy.
After the treatment, the tapeworm is excreted in several parts in the stool. Laxative drinks, such as Glauber’s salt solution, can also accelerate elimination. As part of the therapy, fatigue , dizziness , headaches , nausea or abdominal pain can occur.With increasing age, the dwarf tapeworm often disappears on its own, but there is no guarantee that it will heal spontaneously. Pregnant women should only carry out therapy after consulting a doctor or only if the infestation is very severe.
prevention
To prevent a dwarf tapeworm infection, it is important to pay attention to strict hygiene. Regular hand washing before eating or after going to the toilet is essential, especially in tropical and subtropical regions.In addition, no unwashed vegetables or fruit should be eaten. It is also advisable to use cutlery for eating. The disposal of fecal waste that accumulates in animal cages should be done with household waste. If these measures are observed, the risk of contracting a tapeworm is extremely low.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.