Hymenolepis nana

Background

• Dwarf tapeworm - named so because it is smaller than most cestodes
• Most common human tapeworm infection worldwide
• Transmission through poor sanitation and hygiene
• Completes its entire life cycle in a single host

Clinical Features

• Most common in children
• Majority of infections are asymptomatic
• As parasite burden increases symptoms become more likely
• Presents with crampy abdominal pain, diarrhea, anorexia, and anal pruritis
• May also exhibit dizziness, irritability, sleep disturbance, and seizures

Differential Diagnosis

• Amebiasis
• Colitis
• Diphyllobothrium Latum Infection
• Giardiasis
• Hookworm Infection
• Intestinal Protozoal Diseases
• Cystoisosporiasis
• Pediatric Malabsorption Syndromes
• Shigella Infection
• Yersinia Enterocolitica

Diagnosis

• Hx of above symptoms +/- local exposure
• Peripheral blood eosinophilia of 5 to 10 percent may be observed
• Definitive diagnosis by identifying eggs or proglottids in the stool
• Diagnosis of hymenolepiasis should prompt family screening or empiric treatment

Management

Praziquantel: 25 mg/kg orally (single dose), followed by repeat dose 10 days later

Disposition

• Discharge with follow up and plan to either screen or treat family and close contacts

References

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