Tapeworms are parasites that cause intestinal infections. A tapeworm infection during pregnancy may cause health complications for you and your baby. If you are experiencing symptoms such as excessive vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and vitamin B12 deficiency, you could have a tapeworm infection. Hence, seek medical attention and get screened to confirm the diagnosis. The treatment for tapeworm infection is based on the type of tapeworm that has infected the body. Keep reading this post to learn more about tapeworm infection, including its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment in pregnant women.
What Is Tapeworm Infection?
Tapeworms are parasites that thrive in your gastrointestinal tract. A tapeworm infection affects your digestive system and leads to diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, anemia, and weight loss. As an expectant mom, a tapeworm infection may be more dangerous for you than others, so visit a doctor immediately if you suffer from the symptoms of a tapeworm infection (1).
Causes Of Tapeworm Infection During Pregnancy
A tapeworm infection occurs due to the five types of worms we list below. These worms commonly affect humans and are cosmopolitan in distribution.
Symptoms Of Tapeworm During Pregnancy
The symptoms of a tapeworm infection are easily discernible. Some of the common symptoms may include:
Diagnosing Tapeworm Infection During Pregnancy
Diagnosing a tapeworm infection involves different tests depending on the type of tapeworm infection. Here are some common diagnostic tests to detect tapeworm infection during pregnancy.
1. Blood tests:
Blood tests of an expecting mother aim to look for the presence of antibodies to tapeworm infection.
2. Imaging scans:
Imaging scans include an ultrasound scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computerized tomography (CT scan). If nothing prominent is seen in the blood tests, the doctor recommends imaging scans. Depending on the condition of the expecting mother, the doctor may recommend imaging scans.
3. Organ tests:
The doctor may recommend organ tests to check the functioning of the affected organs.
Treating Tapeworm Infection During Pregnancy
It is best to consult the doctor as soon as symptoms of a tapeworm infection surface. Depending on the type of tapeworm, the doctor will prescribe medicines. Treatment protocol depends on the type of worm infestation. These medications paralyze the worm, and they finally pass out of the body during bowel movements. Cramps may be felt when they pass.
