infectious diseases
Taenia Solium (Pork Tapeworm) Infection and Cysticercosis
Symptoms and Signs
Humans infected with adultT. soliumworms are asymptomatic or have mild gastrointestinal complaints. They may see proglottids in their stool. Viable cysticerci (larval form) in most organs cause minimal or no tissue reaction, but dying cysts in the central nervous system, eye, or spinal cord can release antigens that elicit an intense tissue response. Thus, symptoms often do not appear for years after infection. Infection in the brain (neurocysticercosis) may result in severe symptoms due to mass effect and inflammation induced by degeneration of cysticerci and release of antigens. Depending on the location and number of cysticerci, patients with neurocysticercosis may present with seizures, signs of increased intracranial pressure, hydrocephalus, focal neurologic signs, altered mental status, or aseptic meningitis. Cysticerci may also infect the spinal cord, muscles, subcutaneous tissues, and eyes. Substantial secondary immunity develops after larval infection. 