Hymenolepiasis
Clinical Presentation
Clinical Presentation of Hymenolepis spp. in Humans
Three adult Hymenolepis nana tapeworms, each 15-44mm.
(Image courtesy of Georgia Division of Public Health and the Unites States CDC Parasites Division)
Symptoms
occur only with heavy infections and are most apparent in children.
They include:
Gastrointestinal discomfort
Diarrhea
Weakness
Poor appetite/anorexia
Headaches
Complications: discomfort and dehydration from prolonged diarrhea
Case Report: from United States
Rat tapeworm, H. diminuta, infection found in a child. Although
200 cases have been reported world-wide, no American medical literature
from 1965 to 1990. In 1989, Dr. Hamrick of the Department of Pediatrics
at University of North Carolina School of Medicine(HJH) found a 17 month
old boy with worm in feces. Treated with one dose of niclosamide, he suffered
no further complications. There was no suspected or unusual exposure except
corn muffins from commercially available sources. This provides a warning
to keep all food products, especially cereals, flour, meal, grains and
dried fruits free from contamination by rats, mice and insects.
Hamerick, HJ, Bowdre, JH, and Church, S. (1990) Rat tapeworm(Hymenolepis diminuta) infection in a child. Pediatric Infections Disease Journal 9: 216-219.
Case Report: from Spain, Human Infection with H. diminuta
A five year old girl, was brought to the hospital with an episode of apnea induced by crying, became cyanotic, lost consciousness, experienced stifness of limbs, drowsiness and hypotony, and restless nights. Most tell-tale symptoms were abdominal pain and anal pruritus. Eggs of H. diminuta were found in concentrated stools. After one month treatment with oral metronidazole for pain and tinidazole, followed by by three cycles fo 25 mg praziquantel per kg/day. No further complications were reported.
Tena, D. et al. (1998) Human Infection with Hymenolepis diminuta: Case Report from Spain. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 36: 2375-2376.