How to Check for Tapeworms

Checking for tapeworms is very simple, although you may not know you have tapeworms until after your examination because the signs are so common. Some common signs of tapeworms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, and nausea. Tapeworms are parasites that live in the digestive area of your body. They are flat, look like worms, and typically are contracted from eating raw animal meat. Segments of the tapeworm look like tiny strands of white tape, hence the name.

Things You'll Need

• latex gloves tongs plastic container

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Instructions

How to Check for Tapeworms

• 1

  Go to the bathroom when you feel the need to have a bowel movement. Take a pair of latex gloves, tongs or something to scoop and grab onto your stool specimen, and a plastic container or specimen container.

• 2

  Put on your plastic gloves before you sit down to have a bowel movement. Place the plastic container and tongs beside the toilet so you can easily reach them.

• 3

  Use your tongs to retrieve your stool specimen immediately after your first one or two stools and place them in the plastic container.

• 4

  Check your stools for tiny, white tape strands or anything that resembles a worm. If these white strands are present, then you probably have tapeworms and need to contact your doctor.

• 5

  Flush your stool specimens down the toilet after examination. If you find any evidence that you might have tapeworms and you think you will not be able to have another bowel movement at the doctor's office, then keep your stool specimen in the container and take it with you to the doctor's office.