Hymenolepiasis - Treatment

Alternative Names

Dwarf tapeworm infection; Rat tapeworm; Tapeworm - infection

Treatment:

Praziquantel as a single dose is the current treatment of choice for this condition.

Expectations (prognosis):

Expect full recovery following treatment.

Complications:

Abdominal discomfort
Dehydration from prolonged diarrhea

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if chronic diarrhea or abdominal cramping are present.

Digestive system organs

Reviewed last on: 8/28/2009
Linda Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Blanton R. Adult tapeworm infections. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th Ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 299.

Richard FO Jr. Diphyllobothrium, dipylidium, and hymenolepsis species. In: Long SS, Pickering LK, Prober CG. Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2008: chap: 279.

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