Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 6: Common Signs of Worms in the Body
• Method 2 of 6: Signs of tapeworms
• Method 3 of 6: Signs of pinworms (genus nematodes)
• Method 4 of 6: Signs of hookworms
• Method 5 of 6: Signs of trichocephalic
• Method 6 of 6: Signs of roundworms
• Tips
• Warnings

Worms are parasites that live off other organisms (for example, humans). Most often, infection with worms occurs when drinking water or food that contains helminth eggs. There are many different types of worms. This article describes the general symptoms of a worm infestation, as well as the specific symptoms that occur with tapeworms, nematodes, trichocephalic and roundworm infestations.

Steps

Method 1 of 6: Common Signs of Worms in the Body

1. 1 Pay attention to unexplained weight loss. If there are worms in the body, the person gets less nutrients because the worms take them away. Because of this, a person may begin to lose weight with a normal diet, since the worms eat up the nutrients that the person should have received.
   • If you notice that you have begun to lose weight without changing your lifestyle and diet, watch your weight. If weight loss continues, see your doctor.
2. 2 Look for unexplained constipation. If you suddenly have constipation that is difficult to explain, this may be a sign of worms. Helminths cause irritation in the intestines, which affects the digestion process. This causes less water to enter the body, which causes constipation.
   • If you eat a diet high in fiber, drink a lot of water, and do whatever else might keep your bowels working, but the constipation persists, this could indicate the presence of worms in your body.
3. 3 Look for bloating if you've recently been to another city or country. If you have traveled somewhere where people have problems with worms and notice that your stomach has begun to swell, you may have become infected. Bloating can be accompanied by pain.
   • If you have traveled to another country and have experienced diarrhea, and then have taken medication for diarrhea, you should carefully monitor your condition. If bloating does not go away after taking the pill, this may be a sign of a worm infection.
4. 4 Remember that worms can make you feel hungry or have no appetite. Because of worms, a person may feel hungry, even if he just ate a good meal, or feel full even when he hasn't eaten anything.
   • This is because the worms eat the food that is intended for you, which is why you do not receive food. Worms can also cause nausea and bloating, which can make you lose your appetite.
5. 5 Pay attention to extreme tiredness and exhaustion if these sensations persist. If there are worms in the body, they take useful nutrients from food, which makes a person starve. At the same time, the lack of nutrients affects the general well-being - a person gets tired quickly and does not have enough strength for anything. Due to a lack of nutrients, a person:
   • Feels tired all the time.
   • Tired with very little energy.
   • Always wants to sleep.
6. 6 Remember, not all people have symptoms. The reaction to the presence of worms in the body is individual. Remember that it will be helpful for you to make an appointment with a doctor after traveling to another country where there is a problem with worms. Better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to helminths.

Method 2 of 6: Signs of tapeworms

1. 1 Look for traces of tapeworms in your stool. If you become infected with tapeworms, you may see the worms in your stool or on your underwear. If you find worms, see a doctor right away. Tapeworms look like this:
   • They look like thin pieces of thread.
   • They are white.
2. 2 Notice if your eyes and skin are paler. If you think you might have tapeworms, examine your eyes and skin in a mirror. Tapeworms often cause iron deficiency because they feed on human blood, which reduces the volume of blood in the body. With a reduced amount of blood, the skin and eyes turn pale.
   • Because tapeworms can reduce the amount of blood in the body, it is not uncommon for an infected person to experience anemia. Signs of anemia include rapid heartbeat, fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, and trouble concentrating.
3. 3 Pay attention to abdominal pain that is accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Tapeworms are capable of blocking lumens and cavities in the intestine, as well as attaching to the intestinal walls. When the intestines become blocked, the person experiences abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.
   • This pain is most often felt over the stomach.
4. 4 Pay attention to diarrhea. Tapeworms can attach to the walls of the small intestine, causing inflammation, which causes the intestines to secrete more fluid. As a result, the body cannot absorb excess fluid, which provokes diarrhea.
5. 5 Pay attention to dizziness. Dizziness is usually not observed - most often it occurs in people infected with wide tapeworms. Broad tapeworms take so much vitamin B12 from the body that it leads to megaloblastic anemia. As a result, the following symptoms appear:
   • Dizziness.
   • Memory loss.
   • Mental disorders.

Method 3 of 6: Signs of pinworms (genus nematodes)

1. 1 Pay attention to skin irritation and itching. Pinworms are a type of nematode and can cause skin irritation. This is due to the fact that these helminths release toxic substances into the blood. When these substances accumulate in the skin, they cause eczema-like disorders.
   • Itching may worsen at night, as helminths lay eggs during this time.
   • Itching can be felt more intensely in the anus, as this is where the worms lay their eggs.
2. 2 Pay attention to sleep problems and mood swings. You may find it difficult to fall asleep and wake up, or wake up more often at night than usual. This can be a sign of pinworms, because when the worms lay eggs, toxic substances enter the bloodstream. Once in the brain, toxins affect its functioning.
   • It can also lead to mood swings. The person may feel happy and then suddenly feel anxious.
3. 3 Pay attention to muscle and joint pain. The toxins released by worms can not only cause itching and sleep problems, but also affect muscles and joints. Toxic substances are carried with the blood throughout the body and enter the muscles and joints, which can cause:
   • Inflammation in muscles or joints.
   • Dull or sharp pain.
4. 4 Pay attention to if you grind your teeth in your sleep. If you start to grind your teeth in your sleep, although you have never done so before, this could be a symptom of pinworm infection. Toxic substances released by helminths can artificially cause anxiety, which causes a person to grind their teeth. The following signs may indicate that you are grinding your teeth in a dream:
   • The teeth are grinded.
   • The teeth have become more sensitive.
   • Jaw pain.
   • Feeling tired in the jaw.
   • Ear pain and headache.
   • Chewing marks on the tongue and on the inner surface of the cheeks.
5. 5 If you have had seizures or think you might have seizures, see your doctor. In severe cases, the toxic substances released by pinworms can cause seizures. This is due to the effects of toxins on the brain. Signs of seizures include:
   • Abrupt, uncontrolled movements of the arms, legs, or other parts of the body.
   • Dizziness and dazed feeling.
   • Inability to control urination and bowel movements.
   • Unexplained blurred consciousness or memory loss.

Method 4 of 6: Signs of hookworms

1. 1 Pay attention to itchy skin and rashes. When infected with hookworms, itching first appears on the skin. Itching occurs when the larvae of the worms are in the skin. You may also notice swelling and redness where itching is most felt. This is also due to the penetration of the larvae into the skin.
   • Most often, itching is felt in the palms and feet.
2. 2 Pay attention to nausea and diarrhea. When worms enter the intestines, they irritate the walls, leading to nausea and diarrhea. Hookworms can also release toxic substances that lead to disruption of the digestive tract. Nausea can lead to vomiting, but not always.
   • Look for traces of blood in your stool. The blood can be red or black.
3. 3 Pay attention to cramping. Hookworms cause inflammation in the colon and also irritate the intestinal mucosa in the colon, cecum, and rectum. This can cause abdominal cramps.
4. 4 Pay attention to sudden iron deficiency in your body. This symptom is seen in severe infections. Ankylostomatids feed on blood, which causes the human body to lose iron. Signs of iron deficiency include:
   • Excessive fatigue and general weakness.
   • Pale skin and eyes.
   • Chest pain and headache.
   • Dyspnea.

Method 5 of 6: Signs of trichocephalic

1. 1 Pay attention to frequent urge to defecate. This symptom is called tenesmus. The body's immune system fights the parasite, which can cause inflammation in the digestive tract. Inflammation makes it difficult for your intestines to work, resulting in tenesmus or the feeling that you need to use the toilet even if there is nothing in your intestines. This can cause:
   • Straining.
   • Pain in the rectum.
   • Cramping.
2. 2 Look for signs of bowel obstruction. Worms can block lumens and cavities in the intestines. If the intestines are blocked, it leads to:
   • Abdominal cramps.
   • Nausea.
   • Vomiting.
3. 3 Pay attention to excessive diarrhea and dehydration. Trichocephalics immerse their heads in the walls of the stomach, which leads to increased fluid separation and decreased absorption of fluid in the intestine. When more fluid is produced in the large intestine than normal, it is difficult for the body to reabsorb that fluid, which can lead to:
   • Diarrhea.
   • Dehydration or constant feeling of thirst.
   • Loss of electrolytes and nutrients.
4. 4 See your doctor if rectal prolapse occurs. As trichocephalics sink their heads into the intestinal lining, the rectum loses its internal support. This weakens the adjacent muscles, causing the rectum to prolapse. The following happens:
   • The lower part of the large intestine, which is inside the anal canal, is turned inside out and may sag.

Method 6 of 6: Signs of roundworms

1. 1 Pay attention to acute abdominal pain. Roundworms can block intestinal lumens because they are very thick (in some cases they can be as large as a pencil). When the intestines are blocked, severe abdominal pain occurs. You can feel:
   • A spasm that cannot be relieved by anything.
2. 2 Note the itching around the anus. Roundworms can lay eggs that release toxic substances into the body. These toxins enter the bloodstream and cause itching in the anus.
   • Itching can be worse at night, as the worms lay eggs at night while the person is asleep.
3. 3 See your doctor if you see worms in your stools or nasal discharge. When roundworms multiply, they begin to leave the body in search of a new place to live. Because of this, worms can leave the body in different places. Most often they exit through:
   • Mouth.
   • Nose.
   • Anus.

Tips

• When infected with trichocephalus, symptoms are most often absent.

Warnings

• If you think you may have worms, see your doctor as soon as possible and start treatment.