Worms inside your body vary greatly in appearance, from tiny, white, thread-like Threadworms (pinworms, 2-13mm) visible in poo or around the anus at night, to large, flat, ribbon-like Tapeworms (meters long), to thick, pinkish Roundworms resembling earthworms, and even hook-shaped Hookworms with large mouths, often seen in stool, while some, like Flukes, are small flatworms or microscopic larvae, with the most common ones being visible to the naked eye when mature.
See a GP if you:
find a large worm, a piece of worm or worm eggs in your poo. have a red, itchy worm-shaped rash on your skin. have sickness, diarrhoea or a stomach ache for longer than 2 weeks. are losing weight for no reason.
Other types of worms, such as dog tapeworm, may only cause symptoms after a long time, or if there is a severe infection. Symptoms may include: diarrhoea. tiredness and weakness.
Yes, some parasitic worms, like Strongyloides and Ascaris, can cause an itchy or scratchy throat as their larvae travel through the lungs and airways on their way to the intestines, leading to respiratory symptoms like coughing, wheezing, and throat irritation. Another possibility, though rarer, is a worm getting stuck in the throat itself after eating contaminated raw fish, causing a tingling or foreign body sensation.
Sometimes, individuals with taeniasis can see tapeworm segments (called proglottids) being passed through the anus and in the stool. Taeniasis can lead to urticaria, an itchy rash of weals and hives.
Skin irritation, mysterious rashes, hives, rosacea, or eczema can be a sign of intestinal parasitic existence. If you are having itching, rashes, and hives without significant improvement even after over-the-counter treatments, it may be something more than a common skin issue.
Tapeworm infection in the intestines
Ascariasis can cause symptoms such as stomach pain, vomiting, fever and cough. Serious health issues called complications can happen if many worms grow inside the body. But most people with ascariasis have no symptoms. Ascariasis treatment includes medicines that help get rid of the worms.
You can spot threadworms in your poo. They look like pieces of white thread. You might also see them around your child's bottom (anus). The worms usually come out at night while your child is sleeping.
The most likely explanation of white specks in your poop is that they're pieces of undigested food. Your gut finds it difficult to digest certain types of fiber. So, in your poop, you might see pieces of hard or fibrous plants like nuts and seeds, or the casings of corn or other grains.
Unexplained digestive problems
It triggers your immune system, and it can result in various symptoms depending on the organism and reaction of your immune system to it. Watery diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, bloating, gas, and constipation can all be symptoms of parasites, according to experts.
What are the most common food sources of parasites?
10 Warning Signs of Parasitic Infections
That is not true. Intestinal worms are usually contracted due to unhygienic conditions. However, the parasites feed on the child's nutrition and therefore, lead to an increased sugar craving in the child. The sugar craving usually increases so rapidly that the child may seem to be having addictive behavior.
The most common symptom of infection is anal itching, particularly at night, as worms migrate to the host's anal area to lay their eggs.
Do pinworms go away if they're untreated? No. Untreated pinworms lay more eggs, making it easier to spread the infection. Your child will need medicine to get rid of them.
Symptoms of intestinal parasites include:
Threadworms are tiny parasites that look like tiny pieces of white thread. Threadworms are also sometimes called pinworms, or simply 'worms'. Threadworm infection is sometimes called enterobiasis. They grow to about 1cm in length and live in your intestines and around your anus (bottom).
10 FOOD TO KILL INTESTINAL WORMS NATURALLY:
At night, the female adult worms deposit their eggs outside the rectum near the anal area. One way to detect pinworms is to shine a flashlight on the anal area. The worms are tiny, white, and threadlike. If none are seen, check for 2 or 3 additional nights.
Hookworm symptoms often start with an itchy, red rash ("ground itch") where larvae enter the skin, followed by digestive issues (abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, loss of appetite) and fatigue, primarily from iron-deficiency anemia due to blood loss in the intestines. Severe infections can cause pale skin, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, and stunted growth in children, while lung migration might cause coughing and wheezing. Many people with light infections have no symptoms.
Common parasite symptoms may include:
Invasive tapeworm larval infection
Cysts in your lungs, liver or heart can grow big enough to disrupt those organs' normal functioning. Cysts that adhere to your spinal cord or brain can cause neurological symptoms, such as seizures.