Clinical features: Man gets tapeworms by eating raw or undercooked beef infected with Cysticercus bovis, the larval stage of Taenia Saginata (beef tapeworm) or undercooked food containing Cystercercus cellulose, the larval stage of Taenia solium (pork tapeworm). Most tapeworm infections are symptomless and the commonest way of presentation is the appearance of proglottides or segments in the stool. There may be mild epigastric discomfort, nausea, weight loss and diarrhoea.
Treatment guidelines
Drug of choice |
Niclosamide (O) |
Adult |
2 g start. Chew tablets on an empty stomach. |
Children |
30 mg/kg body weight start on an empty stomach. |
For Taenia solium, T. saginata and Diphyllobothrium latum |
Adult and Child over 6 years |
2 g as a single dose after a light breakfast, followed by a purgative after 2 hours. |
Child 2-6 years |
1 g as a single dose after a light meal, followed by a purgative after 2 hours. |
Child under 2 years |
500 mg as a single dose after a light meal, followed by a purgative after 2 hours. |
For Hymenolepis nana. |
|
Adult and Children over 6 years |
2 g as a single dose on the first day, then 1 g daily for 6 days. |
Child under 2 yrs |
500 mg on the first day as single dose then 250 mg daily for 6 days. |
Child 2 - 6 years |
1 mg on first day as single dose then 500 mg daily for 6 days. |
Counseling: Tablets should be chewed thoroughly before washing down with water.
