Tapeworms are parasites that create intestinal infections. A tapeworm infection while pregnant could cause health problems for both you and your baby. If you’re experiencing signs and symptoms for example excessive vomiting, diarrhea, weight reduction, and b12 deficiency, you might have a tapeworm infection. Hence, seek medical assistance and obtain screened to verify diagnosing. The therapy for tapeworm infection is dependant on the kind of tapeworm which has infected your body.
Keep studying this publish to understand more about tapeworm infection, including its causes, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment in women that are pregnant.
What’s Tapeworm Infection?
Tapeworms are parasites that thrive inside your gastrointestinal tract. A tapeworm infection affects your digestive tract and results in diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, anemia, and weight reduction. Being an expectant mother, a tapeworm infection might be more harmful for you personally than the others, so go to a physician immediately should you suffer the signs and symptoms of the tapeworm infection
Reasons For Tapeworm Infection While Pregnant
A tapeworm infection occurs because of the five kinds of worms we list below. These worms generally affect humans and therefore are cosmopolitan in distribution.
Diphyllobothrium, or even the fish tapeworm, takes place when you take in undercooked freshwater fish.
Taenia solium, or even the pork tapeworm, takes place when you take in undercooked pork
Taenia saginata, or even the beef tapeworm, takes place when you take in undercooked beef that comprises larval cysts.
Hymenolepic, also common as the dwarf tapeworm, is really a unique types of tapeworm that spreads from the human to human.
Echinococcus comprises three types of tapeworm. When you consume it, its larva moves during your body and results in cysts inside your organs.
Poor hygiene practices can also cause tapeworm infection while pregnant (2).
Signs and symptoms Of Tapeworm While Pregnant
The signs and symptoms of the tapeworm infection are often discernible. A few of the common signs and symptoms can include:
- Abdominal discomfort. The region just over the stomach may discomfort a great deal.
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Existence of larvae or segments from the tapeworm within the stools
- General weakness
- Inflammation of intestine or enteritis
- Weight loss
- Appetite loss
- Anemia
- Dizziness
- Difficulty in sleeping
- Convulsions
Lack of nutrition since tapeworm utilizes all important nourishment
- Lack of b12, particularly because of Diphyllobothrium latum
- Fever
- Jaundice
- Allergic attack towards the tapeworm larvae
- Seizures
- Microbial infection
- Intracranial pressure
Diagnosing Tapeworm Infection While Pregnant
Diagnosing a tapeworm infection involves different tests with respect to the kind of tapeworm infection. Here are a few common tests to identify tapeworm infection while pregnant.
1. Bloodstream tests:
Bloodstream tests of the expecting mother aim to discover the existence of antibodies to tapeworm infection.
2. Imaging scans:
Imaging scans have an ultrasound scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computerized tomography (CT scan). If nothing prominent is viewed within the bloodstream tests, the physician recommends imaging scans. With respect to the condition from the expecting mother, the physician may recommend imaging scans.
3. Organ tests:
The physician may recommend organ tests to determine the functioning from the affected organs.
Treating Tapeworm Infection While Pregnant
It is advisable to consult the physician when signs and symptoms of the tapeworm infection surface. With respect to the kind of tapeworm, the physician will prescribe medicines. Treatment protocol depends upon the kind of earthworm invasion.
For fish tapeworms, the physician prescribes praziquantel and supplements of vitamin b complex which include folate.
For pork tapeworm, the physician recommends niclosamide or praziquantel. When the tapeworm infection leads to cysts within the brain, the physician is probably to prescribe praziquantel, corticosteroids, and albendazole.
For beef tapeworms, doctors mostly prescribe niclosamide or praziquantel.
For dwarf tapeworm, physician prescribes praziquantel or niclosamide to relieve the signs and symptoms from the infection
Finally for Echinococcus tapeworms, the physician would recommend albendazole, praziquantel, or perhaps surgery if necessary