Solitary (teniasis): what is it, symptoms and treatment

La teniasis, popularly known as solitary, is a parasite caused by the adult parasite of Taenia sp. which can hinder the absorption of nutrients from foods and produce symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, weight loss or abdominal pain, for example. Teniasis is infected by the ingestion of raw or poorly cooked beef or pork contaminated with the parasite.

To avoid teniasis, it is important to avoid consuming raw beef or pork, wash the food well before preparing it. In the event that there is a suspicion of teniasis, it is important to consult the general physician so that examinations can be carried out and the appropriate treatment can be started, which is usually carried out with Niclosamide or Praziquantel.

main symptoms

The initial infection by Taenia sp. does not cause the appearance of symptoms, these arise as the parasite attaches to the intestinal mucosa and develops, causing symptoms such as:

• Frequent diarrhea or stress;
• nausea;
• Abdominal pain;
• Headache;
• Lack of increased appetite;
• tides;
• weakness;
• irritability;
• weight loss;
• Tiredness and insomnia.

How to confirm the diagnosis

Diagnosing teniasis is, in many cases, difficult due to the fact that most people infected by it Taenia sp. no symptoms are present, and when they arise, they are similar to those of other gastrointestinal infectious diseases.

To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor usually evaluates the symptoms that the individual presents and requests the performance of a heces exam to verify the presence of huevos or proglottids. Taenia sp., being possible to confirm the diagnosis. Find out more about the Exam of Heces.

life cycle of it Taenia solium

The life cycle of teniasis can be represented in the following way:

Generally, teniasis is acquired by the consumption of puerco meat or animals contaminated with the larvae of tapeworm, las cuales lodge in the small intestine and evolve to the adult form. After 3 months, the tenia started to release the called proglottids, which are segments of your body that contain reproductive organs and their huevos.

Taenia solium and Taenia saginata

There Taenia solium and there Taenia saginata They are the parasites responsible for the teniasis, they are white and have a flat body in the form of a belt. Both tenias are different from each other because they have different pets and have different characteristics when they are adults.

There Taenia solium posee as huésped the pigs and, therefore, the transmission occurs when infected raw pigtails are ingested. The adult parasite of la Taenia solium Pose the head with suction cups that allow the adhesion to the intestinal wall. In addition to causing teniasis, the Taenia solium is also responsible for causing cysticercosis.

There Taenia saginata posee as huésped los bovines and only is associated with teniasis. The adult parasite of la Taenia saginata pose with the head unarmed and without face, only with suction cups to fix the mucosa of the intestine. In addition to this, the proglottids of the Taenia solium son bigger than la de la Taenia saginata.

The differentiation of the species cannot be carried out through the analysis of the huevo found in the examination of heces. The differentiation is only possible through the observation of proglottids or through molecular or immunological tests, such as PCR and ELISA, for example.

How is the treatment performed?

Generally, the treatment for teniasis is carried out with the use of antiparasitic drugs prescribed by a general practitioner or gastroenterologist, which are administered in tablets.

These medicines can be taken in single doses or divided into 3 days and normally include:

• niclosamide;
• Praziquantel;
• Albendazole.

The treatment with these medicines only eliminates the adult version of the disease that is in the intestine through the heces and does not eliminate your huevos. For this reason, the person who is undergoing treatment can continue to infect other people until all their eyes are eliminated from the intestine.

Therefore, it is recommended that care is taken during the treatment, such as cooking the food well, avoiding drinking water in the bottle and washing your hands before cooking and after going to the bathroom.

Teniasis prevention

To prevent teniasis, some precautions should be taken, such as not consuming raw or undercooked meat, drinking mineral water, filtered or herby; wash your hands, especially after eating and going to the bathroom; and wash the food with filtered water.

In addition to these measures, it is important to provide clean water to the animals and not to pay for the land with human heces, since this way, in the soil, teniasis is prevented, as well as other infectious diseases.

Know more about other types of parasites and their main symptoms: