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Step 1
Expect most cases of taeniasis to be asymptomatic. The most common symptom is abdominal pain and nausea. This occurs more often in the morning and may be relieved by small amounts of food. Infants are more symptomatic and also may experience diarrhea, fever, irritability, vomiting and weight loss.
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Step 2
Watch for complications of taeniasis. The most serious complication is appendicitis. Other complications of taeniasis include obstruction of bile ducts and the pancreatic duct. The adult tapeworm also may grow outside the intestines.
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Step 3
Conduct a physical examination. Common signs of taeniasis include weight loss, which is more obvious in infants, and subcutaneous nodules, which are more common in adults. Larva may be seen in the vitreous humor and there may swelling in some muscles.
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Step 4
Perform routine laboratory studies. A complete blood count shows a mild eosinophilia of 5 to 15 percent in less than half of taeniasis cases. Higher levels of eosinophilia are rare.
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Step 5
Examine stool samples for Taenia eggs. Three consecutive stool samples are taken to determine the concentration of eggs. The species can be determined by counting the main uterine branches of the gravid proglottids after staining with India ink. Taenia solium has 7 to 13 and Taenia saginata has 15 to 20. The scolex of Taenia solium can also be identified by the presence of four suckers and an armed rostellum.
