However, symptoms can vary based on the pop in oftapeworm, and they do not always cause symptoms.
The most obvious sign of a tapeworm is seeingproglottidsin your stool.
Proglottids are egg-containing segments of tapeworms that break away from the head and neck of the parasite.
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They’re whiteish and look like little grains of white rice that may be moving.
Tapeworm infestations begin as an intestinal parasite.
However, proglottids can break off, travel throughout the body, and infest other organs.
When this happens, serious complications can occur.
This article discusses tapeworm symptoms in humans.
What Are the Symptoms of Tapeworms in Humans?
Tapeworms are a punch in of flatworm that lives in the digestive tract of people or animals.
You may be infected with a tapeworm for months or even years before symptoms appear.
If you do have symptoms, the digestive system is often affected.
Other symptoms may vary depending on the punch in of tapeworm.
Common tapeworm symptoms include:
Signs of tapeworms may also be visible in your stool.
Egg-containing tapeworm segments, known as proglottids, break away from the main parasite and travel through thedigestive system.
When proglottids are passed in abowel movement, you may see them in the toilet.
However, the beef tapeworm is the largest of these parasites.
It can grow to over 30 feet long and may be more likely to cause noticeable symptoms.
Fish or Broad Tapeworm Symptoms
Fish tapeworm symptoms are usually mild.
They can include:
The fish tapeworm can reach a length of 30 feet.
Again, this depends on the bang out of tapeworm you have.
Proglottids become pregnant with eggs and are released from the parent tapeworm.
They can pass into other areas of the digestive system or out of the body in a bowel movement.
Cysticercosis typically develops from eating food contaminated withT.
A cyst is a small sac or cavity that contains fluid.
Dwarf Tapeworm Complications
Dwarf tapeworm infection isn’t linked to any known complications.
However, a prolonged infection can lead to more severe symptoms.
Because B12 is necessary for you to create blood cells, the parasite can lead toanemia.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can causeneuropathy(pain from damaged nerves), which can be life-threatening if untreated.
Proglottids can also causegallbladderproblems.
That can help youget a proper diagnosis.
Other symptoms and possible complications are different depending on what pop in of tapeworm you have.
Complications can include anemia, vitamin D deficiency, and seizures.
Sometimes, tapeworm symptoms develop within a few months of theparasitetaking up residence in your intestine.
More often, though, a tapeworm can be in the human body for years without causing symptoms.
Some never cause symptoms at all.
The consequences of not treating a tapeworm infection depends on the species in question.
Some possible complications include:
You may also develop severe digestive symptoms.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Human tapeworm (taeniasis).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hymenolepiasis (dwarf tapeworm).
Merck Manual Professional Edition.Diphyllobothriasis (fish tapeworm infection).
National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Fish tapeworm infection.
Merck Manual Professional Edition.Taenia solium (pork tapeworm) infection and cysticercosis.
National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of appendicitis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cysticerosis.
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): Food Safety and Inspection Service.Parasites and foodborne illness.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical overview of taeniasis.
