What is Hymenolepiasis?
Hymenolepiasis is an intestinal infection caused by small tapeworms, most commonly Hymenolepis nana (the dwarf tapeworm) and less often Hymenolepis diminuta (the rat tapeworm). These parasites live in the small intestine and are swallowed accidentally through contaminated food, water, or surfaces. Hymenolepis nana is the most common tapeworm infection in humans worldwide and is sometimes called 'dwarf tapeworm infection' because the worm is much smaller than other tapeworms — usually only 1.5 to 4 centimeters long. Many people with hymenolepiasis have no symptoms at all, especially if only a few worms are present. When symptoms do occur, they usually involve the digestive system and can include stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. Children are more commonly affected than adults and may experience more noticeable symptoms. In people with weakened immune systems, the infection can become more serious because the worms can multiply rapidly inside the body without needing to leave the host. The good news is that hymenolepiasis is very treatable. A single dose or short course of an antiparasitic medication called praziquantel is the standard treatment and is highly effective. Niclosamide is another option used in some countries. With proper treatment, most people recover fully and quickly. Good hygiene practices, such as thorough handwashing and safe food handling, are the best ways to prevent infection.
Key symptoms:
Stomach pain or crampingNauseaDiarrheaLoss of appetiteWeight lossItching around the anusIrritability, especially in childrenHeadacheFatigue or low energyBloating or gassy feelingNo symptoms at all (in mild infections)
- Inheritance
- Sporadic
- Usually appears on its own, not inherited from a parent
- Age of Onset
- Variable
- Can begin at different ages, from infancy through adulthood
Treatments
Source: openFDA + DailyMed · NDA / BLA labels with structured indications · refreshed weekly
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for Hymenolepiasis.
View clinical trials →Clinical Trials
View all trials with filters →Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · synced daily · phases, status, and PI names normalized at ingest
No actively recruiting trials found for Hymenolepiasis at this time.
New trials open frequently. Follow this disease to get notified.
Specialists
View all specialists →Source: NPI Registry + PubMed · trial PI roles cross-referenced with ClinicalTrials.gov · ranked by match score (publications + PI activity + community signal)
No specialists are currently listed for Hymenolepiasis.
Treatment Centers
8 centersSource: NORD Rare Disease Centers + NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN) · centers verified active within last 12 months
Children's Hospital Colorado Rare Disease Program ↗
Children's Hospital Colorado
📍 Aurora, CO
👤 Boston Children's Hospital Rare Disease Program
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDBoston Children's Hospital Rare Disease Program ↗
Boston Children's Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
👤 Boston Children's Hospital Rare Disease Program
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🏨 Children'sAnn & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital Genetics ↗
Lurie Children's Hospital
📍 Chicago, IL
👤 Boston Children's Hospital Rare Disease Program
🏥 NORDCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center ↗
Cincinnati Children's
📍 Cincinnati, OH
👤 Boston Children's Hospital Rare Disease Program
🏨 Children'sNationwide Children's Hospital Rare Disease Center ↗
Nationwide Children's Hospital
📍 Columbus, OH
👤 Boston Children's Hospital Rare Disease Program
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Hymenolepiasis.
Community
No community posts yet. Be the first to share your experience with Hymenolepiasis.
Start the conversation →Latest news about Hymenolepiasis
Source: PubMed + NIH RePORTER + openFDA + clinical-journal RSS · last 30 days · disease-tagged at ingest by AI extraction with human QC
No recent news articles for Hymenolepiasis.
Follow this condition to be notified when news becomes available.
Caregiver Resources
NORD Caregiver Resources
Support, advocacy, and financial assistance for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Mental Health Support
Rare disease caregiving can be isolating. Connect with counseling and peer support.
Family & Caregiver Grants
Financial assistance programs specifically for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.How do I take praziquantel correctly, and are there any side effects I should watch for?,Should other people in my household be tested or treated as well?,How will we know the treatment has worked — do I need a follow-up stool test?,What hygiene steps should I take at home to prevent reinfection?,Is my child at risk of any complications from this infection?,How long after treatment should symptoms go away?,Are there any dietary restrictions I should follow during or after treatment?
Common questions about Hymenolepiasis
What is Hymenolepiasis?
Hymenolepiasis is an intestinal infection caused by small tapeworms, most commonly Hymenolepis nana (the dwarf tapeworm) and less often Hymenolepis diminuta (the rat tapeworm). These parasites live in the small intestine and are swallowed accidentally through contaminated food, water, or surfaces. Hymenolepis nana is the most common tapeworm infection in humans worldwide and is sometimes called 'dwarf tapeworm infection' because the worm is much smaller than other tapeworms — usually only 1.5 to 4 centimeters long. Many people with hymenolepiasis have no symptoms at all, especially if only a
How is Hymenolepiasis inherited?
Hymenolepiasis follows a sporadic inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.
Frequently asked questions about Hymenolepiasis
Auto-generated from canonical disease facts (Orphanet, OMIM, ClinicalTrials.gov, openFDA, NPPES). Not a substitute for clinical guidance.
What is Hymenolepiasis?
Hymenolepiasis is a rare disease catalogued in international rare-disease ontologies (Orphanet ORPHA:401). It is typically inherited as sporadic. Age of onset is generally variable. For verified primary sources, see the UniteRare Hymenolepiasis page.
How is Hymenolepiasis inherited?
Hymenolepiasis follows sporadic inheritance. Genetic counseling is recommended for affected families to understand recurrence risk in offspring and the likelihood of unaffected siblings being carriers. Variants in the underlying gene(s) may be identified via clinical genetic testing.
Are there FDA-approved treatments for Hymenolepiasis?
Approved treatments for Hymenolepiasis are tracked from openFDA and DailyMed primary sources. Many rare diseases have no specific FDA-approved therapy; for those, supportive care and management of complications form the basis of clinical care. Orphan-drug-designation status is noted where applicable.
Are there clinical trials for Hymenolepiasis?
Active clinical trials for Hymenolepiasis are tracked daily from ClinicalTrials.gov. Trial availability changes frequently; check the UniteRare trial listings for the current count and recruitment status. Sponsors of rare-disease research often welcome inquiries even when a trial is not actively recruiting at a given moment.
How do I find a specialist for Hymenolepiasis?
Verified Hymenolepiasis specialists are identified through ClinicalTrials.gov principal-investigator records, peer-reviewed publication authorship (via PubMed), and the NPPES NPI registry. NORD-designated Centers of Excellence and NIH-affiliated rare-disease clinics are also tracked. UniteRare's specialist directory is updated continuously as new evidence becomes available.
See full Hymenolepiasis page for complete clinical details, sources, and verified-specialist listings.
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