Tapeworms are one of the most common types of parasitic infections that are known to infect humans, and a tapeworm infection is most commonly contracted through either direct contact with the parasite itself, or direct contact with an existing carrier of the tapeworm – and humans most commonly get it through consuming meat that has been infected with the parasite, although there are some other ways in which the parasite can reach the body.
What makes a tapeworm infection more dangerous is the fact that you can experience symptoms for years while a tapeworm infection rages in your body and you might not even know about it; the tapeworm is a parasite that has the ability to survive within the body for years, and symptoms can occur in bouts months apart.
Here are the 8 most typical symptoms of a tapeworm infection that you should know about if it ever happens to you.
1. A constant feeling of hunger.
Tapeworms seat themselves in the digestive system, and it remains one of their favorite places to breed within the body – and if you have a tapeworm infection, this is one of the first and most common ways in which you will feel the infection in your body.
Because of the energy requirements of the tapeworm, if you have a tapeworm infection you might constantly feel hungry – or you might lose your appetite entirely on the other end of the scale. Tapeworm infections will more commonly cause the feeling of constant hunger, which means that any rumors about tapeworms as a potential diet aide have long since debunked.
In many cases, they can lead to weight gain and the constant feeling of hunger instead of the opposite. If this is the case with you, then you should ideally make an appointment to see your doctor sooner rather than later for diagnosis and treatment.