Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesAppearanceSymptomsSelf-ChecksWhat to DoWhen to Get HelpTreatmentNext in Tapeworm Infection GuideHow Tapeworm Infection Is Treated
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Appearance
Symptoms
Self-Checks
What to Do
When to Get Help
Treatment
Next in Tapeworm Infection Guide
Tapeworm segments in human stool look like tiny grains of white rice that may be moving. Tapeworm may be seen in the toilet bowl or passing through the anus. Most people with tapeworm infections have mild symptoms or none at all. When symptoms do occur, they may includeabdominal pain, loss of appetite, weight loss, and upset stomach.
There are no at-home tests for tapeworms. If you find a tapeworm in your stool, seal it in a container and take it to a healthcare provider for lab testing. Tapeworm infection is easily treated with praziquantel, a drug that paralyzes the tapeworm and forces it from theintestines. Attempting to deworm yourself at home with natural remedies is not recommended.
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Why Are There Small Worms in My Poop?
Small worms in your poop likely indicate an intestinalparasitic infection. Types of small worms that can be seen in human poop include:
Is Tapeworm Present in Every Human Body?Tapeworms are not present in every human body, and tapeworm infections are rare in the United States. Tapeworm infections occur when a person ingests food, water, or soil contaminated with tapeworm larvae or eggs.
Is Tapeworm Present in Every Human Body?
Tapeworms are not present in every human body, and tapeworm infections are rare in the United States. Tapeworm infections occur when a person ingests food, water, or soil contaminated with tapeworm larvae or eggs.
What Does Tapeworm Look Like in Poop?
An adult tapeworm has up to 1,000 segments, calledproglottids. Each proglottid contains 30,000 to 100,000 eggs. If a proglottid separates from the adult tapeworm, it will travel through the intestines and may appear in stool.
Here’s how a tapeworm proglottid in human poop looks:
Left untreated, tapeworms can grow up to 30 feet and live up to 25 years. Usually, only the rice-like proglottids are visible in stool. It is much less common to see long, intact tapeworms.
What Can Be Mistaken for Tapeworm Segments?Pinworms are often mistaken for tapeworm segments. Pinworms are the most common intestinal worm infection in the United States.Undigested food, such as corn or grains, and excess mucus can also be confused with tapeworms, asmucus in stoolmay appear stringy and worm-like.
What Can Be Mistaken for Tapeworm Segments?
Pinworms are often mistaken for tapeworm segments. Pinworms are the most common intestinal worm infection in the United States.Undigested food, such as corn or grains, and excess mucus can also be confused with tapeworms, asmucus in stoolmay appear stringy and worm-like.
Symptoms of a Tapeworm in Humans
Aside from passing a tapeworm, egg, or proglottid in your stool, other symptoms of an intestinal parasite infection include:
Infection withT. soliumtapeworms can result in an infection calledcysticercosis, in which tapeworm larvae get into other tissues, such as muscle,brain, or eye tissues, and form cysts.
When cysticercosis forms in the brain, the condition is called neurocysticercosis. Although the condition is rare, it can result in behavior changes and life-threatening complications, such asseizures. The cysts may need to be removed surgically.
Can Tapeworms Make You Hungry?Tapeworm infection can make you feel hungry. However, they are more commonly associated with loss of appetite and weight loss.
Can Tapeworms Make You Hungry?
Tapeworm infection can make you feel hungry. However, they are more commonly associated with loss of appetite and weight loss.
How to Check Yourself for Tapeworms
You likely won’t notice changes in your stool from a tapeworm infection unless you pass a tapeworm segment. Other than this, there are no ways to check yourself for tapeworms.
There are also no at-home tests for tapeworm infection. So, if you suspect you may have tapeworm eggs or segments in your stool, you will need to see a healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis.
What to Do if You Find Worms in Human Poop
If you find worms in human poop:
When to See a Healthcare Provider
See a healthcare provider right away if you see or suspect evidence of worms in your stool. You should also see a healthcare provider if you:
Some symptoms of tapeworm infection, such as prolonged stomach pain, weight loss, and blood in stool, can be signs of other serious medical conditions. See a healthcare provider if you notice these symptoms or other unusualchanges in bowel habits.
What Kills Tapeworms in Humans?
The most effective way to kill tapeworms in humans is prescription medication. The most common drug prescribed to treat tapeworm infection is praziquantel.In most cases, only one dose is needed to clear the infection.
Pumpkin seeds, raw garlic, vinegar, and coconut are often suggested as remedies for tapeworms, but their effectiveness is not scientifically proven. Altogether, attempting to deworm yourself at home is not recommended.
Do Worms in Poop Go Away on Their Own?Tapeworms do not typically go away on their own. Tapeworms can stay in the intestines for years or even decades until they are effectively eliminated. Without treatment, tapeworm infections will persist and may cause complications.
Do Worms in Poop Go Away on Their Own?
Tapeworms do not typically go away on their own. Tapeworms can stay in the intestines for years or even decades until they are effectively eliminated. Without treatment, tapeworm infections will persist and may cause complications.
Summary
The most common sign of a tapeworm infection is seeing a tapeworm in poop. Tapeworms like look like grains of rice and may be moving.
Tapeworm infections are diagnosed using a stool sample to analyze the type of tapeworm. In some cases, imaging studies may be needed to determine the extent of infection.
If you see tapeworm in your poop, see your healthcare provider. Some tapeworm species can cause serious, long-term health problems.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of human tapeworm.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About human tapeworm.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diphyllobothriasis.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Enterobiasis.Nemours.Tapeworm.American Academy of Pediatrics.Tapeworms.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About pinworm infection.Mount Sinai.Intestinal parasites.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About cysticercosis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical treatment of taeniasis.Additional ReadingGlobal Health – Division of Parasitic Diseases. “Diagnosis of Parasitic Diseases.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pearson R. “Taenia Solium (Pork Tapeworm) Infection and Cysticercosis.” Merck Manual Professional Edition.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of human tapeworm.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About human tapeworm.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diphyllobothriasis.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Enterobiasis.Nemours.Tapeworm.American Academy of Pediatrics.Tapeworms.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About pinworm infection.Mount Sinai.Intestinal parasites.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About cysticercosis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical treatment of taeniasis.Additional ReadingGlobal Health – Division of Parasitic Diseases. “Diagnosis of Parasitic Diseases.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pearson R. “Taenia Solium (Pork Tapeworm) Infection and Cysticercosis.” Merck Manual Professional Edition.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of human tapeworm.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About human tapeworm.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diphyllobothriasis.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Enterobiasis.Nemours.Tapeworm.American Academy of Pediatrics.Tapeworms.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About pinworm infection.Mount Sinai.Intestinal parasites.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About cysticercosis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical treatment of taeniasis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of human tapeworm.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About human tapeworm.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diphyllobothriasis.
National Organization for Rare Disorders.Enterobiasis.
Nemours.Tapeworm.
American Academy of Pediatrics.Tapeworms.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About pinworm infection.
Mount Sinai.Intestinal parasites.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About cysticercosis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical treatment of taeniasis.
Global Health – Division of Parasitic Diseases. “Diagnosis of Parasitic Diseases.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pearson R. “Taenia Solium (Pork Tapeworm) Infection and Cysticercosis.” Merck Manual Professional Edition.
Global Health – Division of Parasitic Diseases. “Diagnosis of Parasitic Diseases.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Pearson R. “Taenia Solium (Pork Tapeworm) Infection and Cysticercosis.” Merck Manual Professional Edition.
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