Pork tapeworm infection (in medical terms called cysticercosis) represents a type of infection evoked by taenia solium, or the pork tapeworm. Its larva appears in the body and becomes a reason for cysticerci formation. It also causes the condition called neurocysticercosis if larvae appear in the brain.

Common tapeworm can be found everywhere but mostly in rural surroundings and third world countries with hygiene and healthcare problems. Especially frequent cases of infection are in the places where pigs feed and walk around freely. Infection is rare in the U.S. and almost singular in Muslim countries because of their eating habits prohibiting them eating pork meat.

The condition of cysticercosis can happen after swallowing pork tapeworm eggs by accident. They are able to travel via food, water, or surfaces contaminated with feces and can appear in a person’s body if he or she swallows food or water or touches the mouth with dirty hands. Inside the body the worm eggs thrive, grow and spread; they are able to reach the muscles, eyes or brain traveling via bloodstream and lymphatic system.

If cysticerci appear in the muscles they will probably show no symptoms apart from small lumps under your skin. In case when cysticerci appear in the eyes this is fraught with more complications like blurred vision or in the severest case detachment of retina. Neurocysticercosis, or case of cysticerci in the brain or spinal cord, is very serious indeed. The most common symptoms of this infection are seizures and headaches but their intensity depends on the number of cysticerci, or lesions, found in the brain. Symptoms also show up when cysts die. This may happen after a long time (after years and months) and is characterized by brain swelling. In some severe cases the infection can lead to death.

It is not easy to make a diagnosis of this condition and it requires a compounding of testing means. It is important to know as much about the illness history as possible, especially if the disease could be induced by some travel experience. Also information about eating and other lifestyle habits are vital. Generally the condition is diagnosed by MRI or CT brain scans; blood tests are also involved, and surgery in some rare cases.

The infection caused by pork tapeworm is treated with the help of anti-parasitic drugs (vermifuges) in combination with anti-inflammatory drugs; in some severe cases surgery can be carried out. The latter is used when a person is not responsive to the treatment with medications or in order to reduce brain swelling. Cysticercosis of not every type requires to be cured; often it depends on how many cysts have already had time to form and how big their influence is. One single lesion does not require special treatment but a number of them do need a complex therapy.