Tapeworms are flat worms that can live in the intestines. Humans can get these worms after eating the undercooked meat of an infected animal. This includes infected pork, beef, or fish. Dogs and cats can also get tapeworms, but their infections rarely pass to humans.
Is tapeworm contagious from human to human?
If this infected poop gets into soil or water, it can infect other people or animals. contact with poop that contains tapeworm eggs. People can pass tapeworm eggs to others when they don't wash their hands after using the bathroom. Tapeworm eggs in feces can then spread into food or onto surfaces like doorknobs.
How do tapeworms spread from person to person?
Humans swallow the eggs when they eat contaminated food or put contaminated fingers in their mouth. Importantly, someone with a tapeworm can infect him-or herself with tapeworm eggs (this is called autoinfection), and can infect others in the family.
How can humans get tapeworms from dogs?
In general, the mode of tapeworm transmission from pet to person is due to close physical contact such as allowing a pet to lick you or letting it sleep on your bed which causes accidental ingestion of the tapeworm eggs. Contact with cat or dog faeces also carries a risk, as is eating unwashed wild foods.
How do I know if I passed a tapeworm?
A tapeworm infection is usually diagnosed by finding eggs or tapeworm segments in the stool. Your doctor may ask you to bring in a sample so a lab can look for eggs, larvae, or tapeworm segments. A blood test can spot antigens, foreign substances that let your doctor know your body is trying to fight the infection.
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