Tapeworm is a parasite that we find in pork, and that can be harbored in the human intestine when raw or undercooked pork is eaten. Find out how to remove it.
They become one of the most feared intestinal worms, which can “live” with the person for long periods of time without causing any discomfort, or becoming a serious problem.
The so-called tapeworm ( Taenia solium) are intestinal worms that live by feeding in the small intestine of the primary host, and whose length tends to range from a few millimeters to 9 meters in length.
They have a head that in turn has some species of hooks, which adhere to the wall of the intestine. Their body is elongated and saucer, formed by various rings that tend to be expelled to the outside when they defecate (each ring produces eggs by itself).
At the moment in which the person or mammal ingests these eggs, the larvae hatch in the intestine, encysting in some organ of the new host (secondary host).
The lonely one: typical of pork
Although there are different kinds of tapeworms (those of cows, fish or dogs), one of the best known is the one found in pork, which is popularly called tapeworm.
It is a very widespread species in countries such as Central America, South America and Asia.
It consists of a flat intestinal worm, which can reach between 2 and 5 meters in length, and responsible for taeniasis (it occurs when eating raw infected meat when the encyst larvae hatch in the human intestine, producing new tapeworms) and the Cistercosis (occurs when eggs are ingested, so that hatching larvae encyst in body organs).
Symptoms of tapeworm
- Abdominal pain and discomfort.
- Irritation in the anal area.
- Sickness.
- Diarrhea (usually mild).
- Constant expulsion of flatulence (gases).
- Constant feeling of satiety.
- Restlessness.
How to remove tapeworm from pork?
Considering that one of the most common tapeworm infections is due to eating raw or undercooked pork, it is essential to know how to remove tapeworm from pork.
For this, it is very important to avoid raw meat. In addition, it is advisable to cook the meat enough, at more than 60º C for at least 5 minutes.
It is also useful to freeze the meat at –20ºC for 24 hours, which helps destroy the tapeworm eggs.
Incidentally, it is appropriate to follow good hygiene and wash hands after using the bathroom (especially public toilets), which prevents self-infection in people already infected with tapeworms.
