Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, 11566, Egypt
2
Consultant of Tropical Medicine and Fever, Military Medical Academy, Cairo, 11291, Egypt
3
Consultant of Pathology, Military Medical Academy, Cairo, 11291, Egypt
4
Consultant of Nursing and Hospital Administration, Military Medical Academy, Cairo, 11291, Egypt
5
Consultant of Public Health, Military Medical Academy, Cairo, 11291, Egypt
Abstract
Taenia solium is an intestinal cestode of worldwide distribution, especially in poorer commu-
nities where humans live in contact with pigs and eat undercooked pork. Cysticercus cellulo-
se, the larval stage, primarily develops in tissues of pigs. T. solium clinical syndromes include
neurocysticercosis (NCC) and extraneural cysticercosis. NCC, in turn, is divided into parenchy-
mal and extraparenchymal forms. Stages of cysticercosis include an initial (viable) phase, a
degenerating (enhancing) phase, and a nonviable (calcified) phase. Cysticerci may be present in
more than one anatomic site and at different stages in their natural history simultaneously.
Taeniasis is usually characterized by mild and non-specific symptoms. Abdominal pain, nausea,
diarrhoea or constipation may arise when tapeworms become fully developed in the intestine,
approximately 8 weeks after ingestion of meat containing cysticerci. Symptoms may continue
until tapeworm dies by treatment, otherwise it may live for several years. It the untreated T.
solium infections generally persist for 2-3 years. Conventional anticonvulsant therapy is a must
to manage neurocysticercosis-associated seizure disorders.
Keywords
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