A disease caused by infestation of tapeworm larvae from pork.
A disease caused by the presence of tapeworm larvae of the species Taenia solium in any of the body tissues. Man becomes infected on ingesting tapeworm eggs in contaminated food or drink. The presence of cysticerci in the muscles causes pain and weakness; in the brain the symptoms are more serious, including mental deterioration, paralysis, giddiness, epileptic attacks, and convulsions, which may be fatal. There is no specific treatment for this cosmopolitan disease although surgical removal of cysticerci may be necessary to relieve pressure on the brain.
This disease rarely occurs except in Central Europe, Ethiopia, South Africa, and part of Asia. It results from ova being swallowed or regurgitated into the stomach from an adult pork tapeworm in the intestine. In the stomach the larvae escape from the eggs and are absorbed. They are carried in the blood to various parts of the body, most commonly the subcutaneous tissue and skeletal muscle, where they develop and form cysticerci. When superficial, they may be felt under the skin as small pea-like bodies. Although they cause no symptoms here, cysts may also develop in the brain. Five years later the larvae die, and the brain tissue reaction may result in epileptic fits, obscure neurological disorders, and personality changes. The cysts calcify at this stage, though to a greater degree in the muscles than the brain, allowing them to be seen radiologically. Epilepsy starting in adult life, in anyone who has previously lived in an endemic area, should suggest the possibility of cysticercosis.
Infestation with the larvae of the pork tapeworm. It occurs when ingested Taenia solium larvae from uncooked pork burrow through the intestinal wall and are carried to other tissues through the blood. They may encyst in the heart, eyes, muscles, or brain. In the brain, they may cause a wide variety of neurological symptoms, including seizures. A patient history of eating undercooked pork or other meats may be helpful in establishing the diagnosis, especially in adults with new-onset seizures who are found to have multiple cystic lesions in the brain.
A parasitic infestation arises from the presence of undeveloped larvae (known as cysticerci) of tapeworms, which have matured outside the confines of the intestinal tract. The infection occurs as a consequence of unintentional ingestion of tapeworm eggs.
A relatively uncommon infection prevalent in less developed nations, triggered by the larvae of the pork tapeworm, manifests as a disease known for the formation of cysts in the muscles and brain. These cysts emerge as a result of the worm’s larval stage, thereby characterizing the condition. While the disease remains infrequent in developed countries, its impact on affected regions underscores the importance of effective prevention and control measures.
A tropical illness triggered by infestation with cysticerci, a type of worm. It manifests with symptoms like muscle pain, overall muscular weakness, extreme fatigue, weight loss, and heightened nervousness. In the most severe instances, when the infestation is extensive and the brain is affected, it can lead to widespread paralysis, epileptic seizures, and convulsions.