10 Signs You Might Have Tapeworms And Why They Are Harmful

May 29, 2018

Just saying tapeworms is enough to get anyone to cringe. Having worms that live inside of your stomach and feed on the food you eat is incredibly scary, and rightly so—the stories you hear about people unsuspectingly having tapeworms for long periods of time can make you very nervous about getting tapeworms yourself.

You should be careful when drinking contaminated water, eating fruits or vegetables that haven't been washed or have been contaminated by water, or coming in contact with contaminated soil, as these are all good ways in which you can get tapeworms if you're not careful enough.

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If you happen to get tapeworms, you'll be experiencing some pretty distinct symptoms that you must look out for:

  1. Nausea
  2. Diarrhea
  3. Increased, decreased, or absent appetite
  4. Abdominal pain
  5. Weight loss
  6. Pieces of tapeworms when using the bathroom
  7. Headaches
  8. Seizures
  9. Allergic reactions to the larvae
  10. Cysts in the affected organ

In summary, tapeworms are definitely something to be afraid of. So, what else can you do to prevent yourself from coming in contact with them?

 

1. You can make sure to wash your hands repeatedly and thoroughly every time you eat, handle food, and use the toilet, to make sure that no larvae get inside your mouth and stomach.

2. You can also use your intuition to avoid foods that may have not been prepared in the most pristine conditions or appear contaminated.

 

3. Another thing you can do is be wary of local tap water and only use what you know to be safe, bottled water if you are living in or visiting an area that is known to not have clean water.

 

Tapeworms thrive in contaminated environments and usually people are infected by the things they least expect.

If you take all of these precautions and still suspect that you have a tapeworm inside of you, it's recommended that you call your doctor immediately so you can schedule an appointment and begin the proper treatment if necessary. The havoc tapeworms can wreck is controllable under the right circumstances, so make sure you're doing all you can to stay healthy!

 

Are you afraid of tapeworms? Have you ever had them? Pass this information on to your friends and loved ones so they can watch out for tapeworms too! 

 

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation with your doctor. Your health is important to us!