Treatment:

Tapeworms are treated with medications taken by mouth, usually in a single dose. The drug of choice for tapeworm infections is niclosamide. Praziquantel and albendazole can also be used.

Expectations (prognosis):

With treatment, the tapeworm infection goes away.

Complications:

Rarely, worms can cause a blockage in the intestine.

If pork tapeworm larvae move out of the intestine, they can cause local growths and damage tissues such as the brain, eye, or heart. This condition is called cysticercosis. Infection of the brain can cause seizures and other nervous system problems.

Calling your health care provider:

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you pass something in your stool that looks like a white worm.