If you have a tapeworm infection, you may not have any symptoms. But some people have nausea, stomach pain, weakness, or diarrhea. You might notice a change in appetite (eating more or less than usual). And since the tapeworm keeps your body from absorbing nutrients from food, you may lose weight.
Can a tapeworm cause pain?
Taeniasis can cause mild and non-specific symptoms, including abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhoea or constipation when the tapeworms become fully developed in the intestine. Cysticercosis in humans, on the other hand, occurs when the eggs of pork tapeworms are accidentally ingested.
Is tapeworm painful for humans?
Some tapeworms attach themselves to the walls of the intestines, where they cause irritation or mild inflammation, while others may pass through to your stool and exit your body.
Can you feel a tapeworm coming out?
Kids with a tapeworm infection may feel a piece of the worm coming out through the anus (where the poop comes out). You may even see a piece of worm in the poop. A tapeworm that's in the intestines for a long time can get big and block the appendix or other organs, leading to appendicitis and other problems.
How do you know if you have a tapeworm inside you?
To check if you have tapeworms in your intestine, your doctor will ask for stool samples. They can put the samples under a microscope to look for tapeworm segments and their eggs. If your doctor suspects you have an invasive tapeworm infection, they may order blood tests to check for infection.
More useful articles on a similar topic 👇
How long does tapeworm infection last?Do tapeworms hurt dogs?