infections
Tapeworm Infection
Dwarf tapeworm life cycle
Dwarf tapeworms are small, only up to 2 inches (40 millimeters) long. People become infected with dwarf tapeworms by consuming tapeworm eggs, rather than cysts, as occurs in pork and beef tapeworm infection. The eggs may be consumed in food or water contaminated by human stool or may be transferred to the mouth after contact with infected people. Sometimes people accidentally consume infected insects, such as fleas and beetles, in grains. The eggs develop into adults that live in the intestine. The adult tapeworms lay eggs that are passed in stool. The eggs may be consumed by another person or by the same person, resulting in infection with a new generation of adult tapeworms. Sometimes the eggs hatch in the intestine and develop into adult dwarf tapeworms, causing infection without ever leaving the body. This type of infection is called autoinfection (infection of self). A large number of dwarf tapeworms can accumulate and cause symptoms. 