A friend of mine recently returned from a surfing trip in Mexico, for several weeks. While he was there, he had a great time and got some really good waves. He also got sick when he came back and was diagnosed with having an intestinal tapeworm, he assumes he acquired during his travels. He asked for some more information on the infection and here’s what I told him.
Basics: There are two main types of “tapeworms” in humans. Taenia Saginata is associated with undercooked beef and Taenia Solium is associated with undercooked pork. Tapeworms like to live in the intestines of the host. The eggs may be found anywhere in the body and can cause seizures if in brain tissue (neurocysticercosis).
Location: Worldwide, prevalent in areas where undercooked beef or pork are eaten
Transmission/ Incubation: Acquired by the ingestion of undercooked beef or pork meat that is infected with the larval stage of either species. The patient may be asymptomatic for years before diagnosis.
Prevention: Adequately cooking beef and pork, education about fecal contamination of soil, water, livestock pens
- Four tablespoons of salt taken in one quart of warm water, as a one time dose
- Tobacco, 1 to 1.5 cigarettes, uses the nicotine to stun the parasite, allowing the worm to be passed. This treatment should not be repeated more than once in 48 hours and only tried twice
- Hot peppers used as a steady and frequent part of the diet may offer some protection
I am interested in these “primitive remedies” but do not advocate their use, especially when safe and proper antibiotics can be easily obtained.
The best thing a travel can do, to prevent this, is to make sure their food is properly cooked. A simple examination of the feces (under microscope) is usually good enough to diagnose the infection and antibiotic treatment is simple.
