Cestodes

Question 1

What is a cestode?

Answer 1

Tapeworm

Question 2

What is diphyllobothrium latum?

Answer 2

Fish tapeworm “take a dip in the pool”

Eat larave in uncooked fish

B12 (pernicious) anemia, intestinal tapeworm (not invasive)

Diagnose by eggs in stool

Treat with praziquantel

Question 3

What is taeniasis?

Answer 3

Pork/ beef tapeworm (Taeniasis solium/saginata, respectively)- think pig in the sun “sol”

Eat larvae in undercooked pork/beef

Most are asymptomatic - intestinal tapeworm

Some people notice it coming out with feces or have GI symptoms

Diagnose with stool O&P: saginata has >12 segments, solium has 10 or less

Treat with praziquantel

Question 4

What is Cysticercosis?

Answer 4

Infection of human tissue with Taenia solium (pig tapeworm)

You get it from ingesting eggs from feces of humans with solium

Mass lesions in brain (swiss cheese), eyes

Extraparenchymal disease = worst, intracranial pressure

Parenchymal disease = favorable: seizure, headache

Granulomas/calcified soft tissue also possible

Diagnose with Epi, CAT scan, MRI, serology

Treat with albendazole + steroids for inflammation if neuro

Question 5

What is echinoccus hydatid cyst disease?

Answer 5

Caused by echinococcus granulosus

Get it from ingesting eggs of canine tapeworm from dog feces

Causes Mother/daughter cysts in liver/lungs, TB-like symptoms, anaphylaxis with trauma

Diagnose with epi, imaging, serology

Treat uncomplicated cysts wtih drainage + albendazole

Treat simple with percutaneous drainage + albendazole
Treat small with albendazole only
Treat large with surgery + albendazole