Cysticercosis - What Is It & How Can It Affect You?

Pork tapeworms are found in pigs and humans in Africa, South America, Asia, areas of the United States, and parts of Southern Europe. These parasites infect people when they eat undercooked pork, and once these tapeworms enter a human, an infection called cysticercosis can develop and form cysts in the body.

Cysticercosis is frequently contracted via contaminated food, such as pork, fruits, and vegetables, that haven't been properly washed or cooked. Autoinfection occurs when a person is already infected with cysticercosis and swallows more parasite eggs after they fail to properly wash their hands after a bowel movement. Once the parasite is inside your stomach, the pork tapeworm egg will hatch and penetrate the small intestine. Then it can travel through the bloodstream and develop into cysticerci in the brain, muscles, or eyes.

If you're infected with cysticercosis, you may experience some symptoms depending on where you are infected. Eye lesions can lead to blurry vision or blindness, spine lesions can weaken the host and cause changes in walking, and brain lesions can result in seizures. If you suspect that you may have cysticercosis, contact your physician as soon as possible. Your doctor may conduct blood tests, CT or MRI scans to detect lesions, or biopsy the affected area. Generally, infected patients receive a cysticercosis treatment consisting of anti-parasitic drugs in combination with anti-inflammatory medication. However, surgery may be necessary for patients with eye or brain lesions.

You can prevent an infection by eating pork that has been adequately cooked, and by always washing your hands with soap and water after using the restroom. Washing and peeling raw fruits and vegetables can also keep the parasites at bay.