What severe complication can result from Taenia solium larvae migration outside the intestines?
Cysticercosis
The ingestion of tapeworm cysts, particularly those from *Taenia solium*, poses grave medical risks beyond simple weight loss attempts. While the tapeworm itself residing in the intestine consumes host calories, the most severe danger arises when the parasite larvae migrate beyond the intestinal tract and form cysts in other tissues. This condition is specifically termed cysticercosis. These migrating larvae can lodge in vital organs, including the brain or the liver, leading to potentially catastrophic outcomes such as seizures, severe neurological damage, and other life-threatening health issues. This pathology underscores why medical professionals universally classify the tapeworm diet as a potentially fatal endeavor, as it introduces a serious disease vector into the human body.
