Can Humans Get Tapeworms?

A tapeworm is a worm that can live in the intestine (gut). There are thousands of tapeworm species on the planet. But only some of them cause infections. Tapeworm infections are common in animals. But humans can get tapeworm infections, too.

What kinds of tapeworms infect humans?

Human tapeworm infection is also called taeniasis. There are three major types of human tapeworm infections, caused by these species: beef tapeworm, pork tapeworm, and Asian tapeworm. 

Tapeworms that cause human infections are different from the tapeworms that can infect dogs, cats, and other animals. Here’s what to know about the different types of human tapeworms.

Beef tapeworm (Taenia saginata)

People can develop an intestinal infection after eating raw beef contaminated with Taenia saginata. But adult beef tapeworms can live for decades inside the human intestine without causing symptoms.

Heat kills beef tapeworm. So, you can only get this infection by eating raw or undercooked beef that’s contaminated with tapeworm larva. Although beef tapeworms are found all over the world, they’re more commonly found in:

• Eastern Europe 

• Russia

• Eastern Asia 

• Central America

• South America

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Taenia saginata is rare in the U.S. Cattle feedlots are inspected and regulated by the government to make sure beef isn’t contaminated with tapeworms.

Pork tapeworm (Taenia solium)

People can develop an intestinal infection if they eat pork (pig) meat that’s contaminated with Taenia solium. Heat also kills this type of tapeworm. So, you can only get it by eating undercooked or raw pork meat. 

Although pig tapeworms are found all over the world, infections aren’t common in the U.S. — except in places where there’s potential for cattle to be exposed to human feces, such as feed lots. 

But they do happen in other parts of the world including:

• South America

• Central America

• Eastern Europe

• Sub-Saharan Africa

• India

Another species of pig tapeworm, called Taenia asiatica, only lives in Asia. It’s most often found in:

• Korea 

• China

• Taiwan

• Indonesia

• Thailand 

Taenia solium can also cause another condition called cysticercosis. You can’t get cysticercosis from eating undercooked pork. Instead, people can develop cysticercosis if they ingest the eggs from Taenia solium after eating raw pork. 

After pigs shed the eggs of pork tapeworms in their stool, people can accidentally ingest food and water that’s contaminated with them. The eggs hatch inside different parts of the human body, including the intestines, causing intestinal cysticercosis. Sometimes the eggs hatch in the brain, which is known as neurocysticercosis. 

Sanitation measures keep people safe from cysticercosis in the U.S. But cysticercosis is still common in parts of the world that have less rigorous sanitation systems.

Fish tapeworm (Dibothriocephalus)

Several species of fish tapeworm can infect humans. But the main species that causes disease is Dibothriocephalus latus. People can develop a fish tapeworm infection if they eat raw or undercooked fish from many parts of the world. Heating or properly freezing kills all types of fish tapeworm. 

Fish is caught locally, but then shipped all over the world. So, fish tapeworm infections can happen anywhere in the world. 

How common are tapeworm infections in humans?

Tapeworm infections are very common throughout the world, but quite rare in the U.S. Some studies estimate that fewer than 1% of people experience intestinal tapeworm infections in the U.S. 

Cysticercosis — the more serious condition caused by pork tapeworm — affects about 50 to 100 million people worldwide. In the U.S., many people who’ve immigrated from areas where pork tapeworm is common are living with cysticercosis.

What are the symptoms of a tapeworm infection in a human?

Most tapeworm infections of the intestine don’t cause any symptoms. Most people realize they have a tapeworm infection because they see white adult worms in their stool. 

Sometimes intestinal infections can cause symptoms like:

• Nausea

• Stomach pain

• Loss of appetite

• Diarrhea

• Weight loss

• Gassiness 

• Bloating

Over time, fish tapeworms can cause anemia because they eat all the B12 that comes into the body from food and vitamins. Symptoms of B12 deficiency and anemia include:

• Fatigue and low energy

• Tingling in the hands and feet

• Trouble concentrating

• Mood changes

• Trouble walking

A tapeworm can also get very big — up to 30 feet long. Large tapeworms can block the intestines and cause stomach and bowel obstructions. This is rare. And it needs immediate medical attention. 

Signs of intestine blockage include:

• Vomiting

• Severe stomach pain that doesn’t go away

• Inability to eat or drink

• Stomach distension

What should you do if you think you have a tapeworm infection?

Seek medical care as soon as possible if you see a worm in your stool. Tapeworms are white and long. You should also seek care if you have symptoms of an intestinal tapeworm infection and were recently in an area where tapeworm infections are common.

There are prescription medications that can cure intestinal tapeworm infections. Early treatment lowers the chances of developing complications, like B12 deficiency and small bowel obstructions.

Treatment also stops you from shedding tapeworm eggs. If you ingest pork tapeworm eggs, you could develop a serious brain infection called neurocysticercosis. Getting treatment keeps you and those around you safe from developing complications, like seizures.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Amy Walsh, MD, MDP

I have worked as an emergency physician for 15 years, including care at both rural hospitals and trauma centers. I am the former Global Emergency Medicine fellowship director at Health Partners.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

Reviewed by:

Shiv Sudhakar, MD

Shiv Sudhakar, MD, is a fellow of the Infectious Disease Society of America and works as a physician in California. He has co-authored over 10 peer-reviewed research articles, published several short stories, had a script recently optioned, and presented 20 scientific presentations, two of which placed in the top 3 at the American College of Physicians.

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