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Cysticercosis
"Cysticercosis, an infection caused by the larval form of the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium, is recognized as an increasingly important cause of severe neurologic disease in the United States." CDC (Center for Disease Control) Humans become infected with Cysticercosis when they ingest the eggs of the Taenia solium by eating undercooked pork, through contaminated water or food, or hand to mouth. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae penetrates the intestine, enters the blood stream, and may develop into cysticerci (bladder worm) in muscles, brain, or the eyes.
Symptoms of Cysticercosis can be: muscle pains, lumps under skin, and blurred vision. The symptoms typically occur months to years after the infection. Infections acquired in the United States have been transmitted through imported or local produce contaminated with Taenia solium eggs.
Neurocysticercosis
Neurocysticercosis is the most severe form of Cysticercosis and occurs in the Central Nervous System (CNS). Symptoms usually start when the cysts are in the process of dying, which causes the brain to swell. The symptoms are: seizures, headaches, lack of attention, difficulty with balance, and general confusion. When the cysts die the tapeworm will form a hard shell around itself, then the swelling will go down and the symptoms will dissipate. Death can occur with severe infections of Neurocysticercosis.
Alveolar Hydatid Disease (AHD) can be confused with Cirrhosis of the Liver.
Alveolar Hydatid Disease is caused by the Human Tapeworm, Echinococcus multilocularis, the tapeworm found in dogs, as well as other canines, and cats. The canines and cats carry the adult tapeworms and pass the eggs into the environment through their stool. Once the human ingests the eggs, the eggs release the larvae; the larvae then separates and invades the intestinal wall entering the circulatory system. The larvae can travel throughout the body and form parasitic tumors. The most common site of tumors from the Echinococcus granulosus tapeworm is the liver (60%). These tumors, formally called Hydatid disease, are also found in the lungs (25%), brain, and other organs.
Hydatid cysts grow over the course of many years at an average rate of about 13 cm per year. Surgery is often required to remove the mass. Symptoms are: discomfort in the upper abdominal quadrant, a cough, Jaundice, weakness, and weight loss. The symptoms can mimic those of liver cancer or cirrhosis of the liver.
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