How Can You Tell If You Have a Parasite Inside of You?

Parasites can infect humans through foodborne and waterborne contamination. In humans, intestinal parasites are classified as helminths or protozoa. Helminths are multi-cellular worms that you can sometimes view without a microscope. Protozoa are single-celled organisms that you need to view with a microscope. Helminths can include tapeworms, roundworms and pinworms. Protozoa can include Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Other common intestinal parasites include Trichinella, Blastocystis hominis and Toxoplasma gondii. In some individuals, symptoms of intestinal parasites will never manifest. However, illnesses can become debilitating and in rare instances, death can result.

Things You'll Need

• Stool sample
• Blood tests

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Instructions

• 1

  Examine your stool for worm segments. Intestinal parasites can also alter stools, by causing diarrhea or constipation, depending on the parasite. For example, Giardia can cause greasy, floating stools, indicates the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Trichinellosis can cause both diarrhea and constipation.

• 2

  Notice if you suffer from flu-like symptoms, which will include nausea and vomiting, muscle aches, fevers and chills. If symptoms persist for more than a week, seek medical attention.

• 3

  Watch for sudden weight loss. Cryptosporidium can cause weight loss, as well as tapeworms.

• 4

  Determine if you suffer from restlessness and anal itching. Both Blastocystis hominis and pinworms can cause fatigue and anal itching. Yet, Blastocystis hominis can also cause severe gas, diarrhea and cramping.

• 5

  Ask your doctor to examine a sample of your stool, which can help pinpoint the exact parasite infecting you. Blood tests can also positively diagnose intestinal parasites such as trichinellosis.