Diagnosis and treatment of intestinal helminths. I. Common intestinal cestodes

Increase in travel and immigration has led to a heightened awareness of parasitic diseases among health professionals. Intestinal helminths are important human parasites. Cestodes or tapeworms comprise an important group of helminths. The diagnosis of tapeworm infections requires a skilled laboratory because serological tests are unavailable. In this first part of our review of intestinal helminths, we describe the salient features of the diagnosis and treatment of several important intestinal cestodes, including Diphyllobothrium latum, Taenia, Hymenolepis, and Dipylidium caninum. Niclosamide and praziquantel are the drugs of choice for tapeworm infections.