Taeniasis in humans is a parasitic infection caused by the tapeworm species Taenia saginata (beef tapeworm), Taenia solium (pork tapeworm), and Taenia asiatica (Asian tapeworm). Humans can become infected with these tapeworms by eating raw or undercooked beef (T.
Can you get worms from undercooked food?
When humans eat undercooked meat containing trichinella larvae, the larvae mature into adult worms in the small intestine over several weeks. The adult worms then produce larvae that travel through various tissues, including muscle. Trichinosis is most widespread in rural areas throughout the world.
How do humans get infected with tapeworms?
Tapeworm infection is caused by ingesting food or water contaminated with tapeworm eggs or larvae. If you ingest certain tapeworm eggs, they can migrate outside your intestines and form larval cysts in body tissues and organs (invasive infection).
Is it rare for humans to get tapeworms?
Tapeworms can also infect humans, although it's not a common infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates there are less than 1,000 new tapeworm infections in humans in the United States each year.
How do beef tapeworms affect humans?
solium (usually 3 m). Tapeworms can cause digestive problems including abdominal pain, loss of appetite, weight loss, and upset stomach. The most visible symptom of taeniasis is the active passing of proglottids (tapeworm segments) through the anus and in the feces.
How common is tapeworm in humans?
Tapeworm infections are rare in the United States. When they do happen, they're easy to treat. Often, people may not know they have a tapeworm infection because they have no symptoms or their symptoms are mild.
Can you get tapeworm from medium rare steak?
The only actual worm you could get from beef would be Taenia saginata, a type of tapeworm. The eggs are large enough to be visible when meat is inspected, so infected animals are condemned and won't be sold for human food. As a result, the odds of your contracting a tapeworm from a rare steak are pretty low.
How fast do tapeworms grow in humans?
Humans get the tapeworm infection after eating raw or undercooked pork contaminated with cysts of T. solium. When swallowed the cysts pass through the stomach and attach to the lining of the small intestine. In the small intestine the cysts develop into adult tapeworms over about two months.
What foods can you get tapeworms from?
Tapeworm Most of the tapeworms that affect humans come from eating undercooked animal products — particularly beef and pork — as well as contaminated fish that's raw or undercooked. Symptoms can be nonexistent: People can live with a tapeworm and not know for months or even years.
More useful articles on a similar topic 👇
What do you do if you find worms in your dog's poop?What happens when you have an intestinal tapeworm infection?
