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Case Reports
. 2017 Dec 16;5(12):432-436.
doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v5.i12.432.

Taeniasis: A possible cause of ileal bleeding

Alessia Settesoldi  1 , Alessandro Tozzi  1 , Ottaviano Tarantino  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Taeniasis: A possible cause of ileal bleeding

Alessia Settesoldi et al. World J Clin Cases. .

Abstract

Taenia spp. are flatworms of the class Cestoda, whose definitive hosts are humans and primates. Human infestation (taeniasis) results from the ingestion of raw meat contaminated with encysted larval tapeworms and is considered relatively harmless and mostly asymptomatic. Anemia is not recognized as a possible sign of taeniasis and taeniasis-induced hemorrhage is not described in medical books. Its therapy is based on anthelmintics such praziquantel, niclosamide or albendazole. Here we describe a case of acute ileal bleeding in an Italian man affected with both Taenia spp. infestation resistant to albendazole and Helicobacter pylori-associated duodenal ulcers.

Keywords: Endoscopy; Intestinal bleeding; Iron-deficiency anemia; Taenia spp..

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Head of the tapeworm attached to the jejunum at videocapsule endoscopy.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Body of the tapeworm in the ileum at videocapsule endoscopy.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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