Definition

A condition in which a person is infected by tapeworms, which are flat, ribbon-like parasites that live in the intestines.

Example

The doctor diagnosed her with taeniasis after she reported symptoms of abdominal pain and weight loss.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of taeniasis?

No, what's that about?

It's an infestation caused by tapeworms, mainly from contaminated food.

That sounds pretty serious; I should be more careful with what I eat!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Taeniasis is derived from "taenia" (from Greek "tainia", meaning ribbon or tape) and the suffix "-iasis" (meaning a pathological condition). The term refers to a disease caused by tapeworms, which are ribbon-like in shape.

Memory Tip

Imagine a ribbon ('taenia') causing a health issue ('-iasis') — that's why taeniasis refers to a condition caused by tapeworms.

Visually Confused Words