Intestinal worms, also known as parasitic worms, are one of the main types of intestinal parasites in humans. They are most commonly found in subtropical and tropical regions, but some types are found in the United States.
Most intestinal worm infections only cause mild illness and can be treated with medication. Read on to learn more about intestinal worms including signs, symptoms, and treatment.
Symptoms of intestinal worms
Common symptoms of intestinal worms are:
- abdominal pain
- diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting
- gas and bloating
- fatigue
- unexplained weight loss
- abdominal pain or tenderness
A person with intestinal worms may also experience dysentery. Dysentery is when an intestinal infection causes diarrhea with blood and mucus in the stool. Intestinal worms can also cause a rash or itching around the rectum or vulva. In some cases, you will pass a worm in your stool during a bowel movement.
Some people may have intestinal worms for years without experiencing any symptoms.
How to tell if you have worms in your stool
Worms in your gut eventually pass through your digestive system and are excreted in your feces. Even if you do not have any symptoms, you may find signs of worms in your stool.
Worms in human poop can take a number of appearances. For roundworms, you may find pieces of worms or large, live worms in your feces. For pinworms, you may see thin, white worms that appear like pieces of thread. Pinworms, which are about the length of a staple, are sometimes visible around the anal region at night, when females lay their eggs on the surrounding skin.
A doctor can analyze a sample of your stool in a lab for signs of worms or eggs that can confirm a diagnosis.
Common types of intestinal worms
Common types of intestinal worms that can infect humans include:
- flatworms, which include tapeworms and flukes
- roundworms, which cause ascariasis, pinworm, and hookworm infections
- Tapeworms
Humans get tapeworms by eating raw or uncooked pork or beef. Species that infect humans include:
- Taenia saginata (beef tapeworm)
- Taenia solium (pork tapeworm)
- Taenia asiatica (Asian tapeworm)
It is thought that fewer than 1,000 people in the United States are infected with tapeworms each year, although the exact number is not known. Tapeworms as long as 25 meters (82 feet) have been found in humans.
Causes of intestinal worms
One way to become infected with intestinal worms is by eating undercooked meat from an infected animal, such as a cow, pig, or fish. Other possible causes leading to intestinal worm infection include:
- consumption of contaminated water
- consumption of contaminated soil
- contact with contaminated feces
- poor sanitation
- poor hygiene
Once you have consumed the contaminated substance, the parasite travels into your intestines. Then they reproduce and grow in the intestine. Once they reproduce and become larger in amount and size, symptoms may appear.
Healthline
