Fun Facts
- The condition of being infected with tapeworms is called taeniasis.
- The amount of infections in the world is unknown because diagnosis is difficult especially poorer countries.
- In the US, the exact number of cases is also unknown but experts estimate about 1000 cases occur yearly.
- Although illegal, people intentionally sell tapeworms for weight loss.
- The pork tapeworm is the most harmful type to humans due to the ability of being able to travel to vital organs.
- The worms don't have digestive systems, each segment of the its body absorbs nutrients by itself and makes eggs inside when it is fully matured.
- Typically, the beef tapeworm is the longest of all growing to about 30 feet.
- Tapeworms are one of the first recognized parasitic worms.