Taenia saginata within a teenager

Taeniasis is an intestinal parasitic infection due to an adult worm of tapeworms (cestodes). In humans, there are two main species: Taenia solium and Taenia saginata, both of them are hermaphrodites and require an intermediate host to complete their life circle: beef tapeworm (Taenia saginata) and pork tapeworm (Taenia solium). Humans are the only definitive host in which the adult form develops. Taenia saginata manly causes gastrointestinal symptoms, while Taenia solium can affect other tissues. We report the case of a teenager who found a number of adult worms on her intimate clothes and in her stools without any other symptom. The worms were described as flat, white and mobile. At the review, she said that she loved eating undercooked meat, without determining the source of the infection. We detected high eosinophilia level in blood test (9,6%). A microbiological test identified proglottids in the stool with a direct examination, and polymerase chain reaction methods established a species diagnosis of Taenia saginata. As a result, we started treatment with prazicuantel orally single dose (off-label) without presenting any side effects.