How to treat a tapeworm infection naturally during pregnancy

Tapeworms are parasites that live in the gastrointestinal tract or in larval cysts that can be found throughout the body.

The five types of tapeworm most commonly infect humans are:

T. saginata, or more commonly known as beef tapeworm, infection is caused when you ingest undercooked beef that contains larval cysts.
T. solium, also known as pork tapeworm, infection occurs when you eat undercooked pork.
D. latum, or fish tapeworm, can infect you when you eat undercooked freshwater fish.
H. nana, also known as dwarf tapeworm, is the only species of tapeworm that can transfer from human to human.
Echinococcus covers three tapeworm species that are ingested. Once ingestion takes place, the larva can move throughout the body causing cysts to form on your organs.

How to prevent tapeworm infection naturally during pregnancy

There are several ways to reduce the risk of infection:

Observe the rules of hygiene, wash your hands often and thoroughly, especially when working with raw meat.
Reduce contact with livestock. Many types of livestock carry tapeworms, so contact with their feces can lead to infection.
Try to avoid traveling to countries with inadequate sanitation procedures.
Make sure the meat is well cooked.
If you are infected with tapeworms, it is best to consult your doctor. Depending on the severity of your infection and the type of tapeworm you have, your doctor will decide whether to delay treatment until the end of your pregnancy or prescribe medication.

How to treat a tapeworm infection during pregnancy if it doesn't work naturally

If your doctor decides that it would be safer to treat you while you are pregnant, treatment may differ depending on the type of tapeworm you are infected with:

For beef tapeworm, your doctor will most likely prescribe praziquantel or niclosamide.
For pork tapeworm, you will most likely be given praziquantel or niclosamide. If the infection causes cysts in the brain parenchyma, you will most likely be given albendazole or praziquantel, and corticosteroids.
For fish tapeworm, praziquantel and vitamin B supplementation (including folic acid) are used for treatment.
For dwarf tapeworm, praziquantel or niclosamide is most often used to treat the infection.
Lastly, for Echinococcus tapeworms, albendazole, praziquantel, or surgery are typically required for treatment.

The most common drugs for treatment during pregnancy, praziquantel and niclosamide, are both risk category B. Most often, doctors prescribe these drugs if the risk of stopping treatment outweighs the risk of potential exposure to the drug during pregnancy.