Short-chain cestodiasis

　　Short-chain cestodiasis is caused by the short-chain cestode, with adults measuring 25-40mm in length and 1mm in width. The scolex has four suckers and a single row of 20-30 rostellum hooks. The neck is slender and elongated, with 100-200 somites behind the neck, with a few up to 1000. Each somite has three round testes, the ovary is divided into two lobes, and the uterus in the gravid proglottids is pouch-like, containing 80-200 eggs. The eggs are colorless and transparent, elliptical or round, measuring 47-37μm in size. The shell is thin, filled with colorless fluid between the shell and the embryonic membrane, with 4-8 filaments extending from each end of the embryonic membrane, and hexacanth larvae are present within the embryonic membrane.

　　The adult parasites reside in the upper part of the host's small intestine, and the gravid proglottids often burst before shedding, releasing eggs which are excreted with feces. If eggs are ingested by humans or rats, they hatch in the intestine, and the hexacanth larvae penetrate the intestinal villi to develop into cysticercoids, returning to the intestinal lumen, adhering to the intestinal wall. They mature and begin laying eggs approximately one month after infection. Their eggs can also hatch in the intestine, leading to self-reinfection. Additionally, fleas and various beetles can act as intermediate hosts. After beetles ingest the eggs, the hexacanth larvae emerge, enter the blood cavity, and develop into cysticercoids. If beetles are eaten by humans or rats, infection can occur.

　　The adult and larval stages of the short-chain cestode can cause massive infection in the human small intestine, leading to mechanical and toxic stimulation of the intestinal mucosa. Recurrent self-infection is a common phenomenon, hence severe infection can occur. The presence of a large number of worms can cause intestinal obstruction, occasionally leading to intestinal perforation, and often accompanied by appendicitis. Short-chain cestodiasis can also trigger an immune response,

　　After infection with short-chain tapeworms, mild cases may be asymptomatic, while severe cases may present with gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, diarrhea, as well as headache, dizziness, irritability, and insomnia, and even convulsions. Some patients may experience skin itching and urticaria and other allergic symptoms, and anemia is also common. The peripheral blood eosinophils are slightly increased. The presence of ova or pregnant segments in the feces can be used to confirm the diagnosis.

　　Prevention of short-chain tapeworm disease should include the following two points:
　　1. Pay attention to personal hygiene, vigorously publicize the dangers of the disease, change bad eating habits such as eating raw meat, and advocate good hygiene habits, such as washing hands before meals.
　　2. Pay attention to environmental hygiene, especially the rat control in the living environment.

　　The main diagnostic methods for short-chain tapeworm disease are routine examination and blood count examination, as follows:

　　Routine examination
　　Ova or pregnant segments are found in the feces. The surrounding anus can be checked for ova by using a glass paper swab method. For those with rare ova, a saturated solution of sodium chloride or sodium nitrate can be used for flotation, and the surface liquid can be examined under a microscope, but the positive rate of the flotation concentration method is relatively low.

　　Blood count examination
　　Mildly infected patients have normal blood counts, with a slight increase in peripheral blood eosinophils; severely infected patients show significant changes in blood counts, with a significant increase in peripheral blood eosinophils. Anemia patients may have decreased blood cells or protein.

　　The dietary注意事项 for short-chain tapeworm disease are as follows:

　　Suitable foods
　　Eat more foods rich in dietary fiber, such as grains, nuts, fresh vegetables and fruits, such as celery, chives, spinach, bananas, peaches, strawberries, etc. Eating sour foods such as black plums, hawthorn, and vinegar can enhance the effect of deworming.

　　Prohibited foods
　　Eat less fatty foods, as most deworming drugs are liposoluble; eat less food that is prone to produce gas, such as radishes, sweet potatoes, beans, etc.

　　The main treatment drug for short-chain tapeworm disease is praziquantel, 15-25mg/kg, taken all at once, with an efficacy of up to 98.5%. Other treatments can include areca nut decoction, niclosamide, or mebendazole, etc., and require continuous treatment for 3-5 days.