Tapeworm eggs for weight loss: the expert clarifies the risks

Consuming tapeworm eggs to lose weight can cause intestinal infections and even tumors in some organs

Sold online in pill format, tapeworm eggs they were used with the promise that they help you lose weight quickly. But recent news about the consumption of tapeworm eggs has doctors worried about the consequences this practice can have on health.

According to some international newspapers, a 21-year-old woman ingested pills containing tennis eggs to lose weight. A few weeks later, the young woman was diagnosed with lesions on her brain, liver and tongue, as well as several cysts in her body.

Parasites that can develop in the human intestine when undercooked meat is eaten, tapeworms can actually cause their host to lose weight, as they feed on what that person eats. However, eggs, if ingested, can enter the bloodstream and reach any organ, causing cysticercosis.

“Depending on the organ affected, it can also cause irreversible cardiovascular problems,” explains Mauricio Chibata, gastroenterologist and professor of medicine at the Positiva University (UP). Therefore, they can cause serious problems for the body.

What is a tapeworm infestation?

The main gastrointestinal symptoms of a tapeworm infection are usually abdominal cramps and a feeling of bloating. Furthermore, it may feel as if the person has not eaten, as the tapeworm absorbs the ingested nutrients.

To get a tapeworm in the intestine, which seems to be the goal of consuming these clandestinely sold pills, it is not enough to ingest the tapeworm eggs. According to Mauricio, the pig whose meat will be consumed is the one that needs to eat these eggs.

The specialist explains that the pig eats eggs found in the environment and these eggs travel, through the blood circulation, into the pig’s tissues in the form of cysticerci. So when someone eats this meat, if it is undercooked, that person will already be eating the animal ready to develop in the intestine.

“In this case, it will not enter my circulation, it will go into my intestines and settle there. The pieces of its body will contain eggs, and when these pieces of its body break off and join the feces, they contaminate the environment and the cycle start again”, comments the professional.

Normally, the diagnosis of a tapeworm infestation is made by parasitological examination of the stool, which will identify whether a tapeworm infestation exists. “As long as it’s just an intestinal infection, treatment is easy. He generally responds well to drugs that are toxic to him, such as Mebendazole, Praziquantel and Albendazole,” explains Mauricio.

Why are eggs more dangerous?

When tapeworm eggs are consumed, the parasite does not necessarily end up in the intestine, but can spread to other organs. “If we consume these eggs, they are absorbed into the bloodstream, because they are very small, and end up in any of our organs. They can get to the brain, muscles, heart or lungs. We call it a cysticercus,” explains Mauricio.

In the brain, according to the expert, this cysticercus can cause seizures and other brain damage. In the heart it can cause pain and even a heart attack; in the lungs, it can cause serious lung problems and so on. “The risk of eating tapeworm eggs is very high. This consumption should not be carried out under any circumstances”, concludes the expert.

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.