Have you ever looked at your poop and noticed something weird? It might not be fun to talk about, but checking your poop can tell you a lot about your health. Sometimes, your poop can show signs of something serious—like a worm infection.

Parasitic worms, also called intestinal worms, are more common than you might think. They can cause problems without you even knowing. In this article, I’ll explain the symptoms, causes, and treatments for intestinal worms. I’ll also tell you what to look for in your poop to see if you might have worms.

What Are Parasitic Worms?

Parasitic worms are tiny creatures that live inside your body and eat the nutrients you need. Some are so small you need a microscope to see them, while others can grow really long—up to several feet! The most common types of intestinal worms are roundworms, tapeworms, and hookworms. You can get them by eating contaminated food or drinking dirty water. They can also come from touching infected surfaces. Worms can live in your gut for a long time before you even notice any symptoms.

The good news is that if you find out early, these worms are usually easy to treat. But first, you need to know the signs to look for.

What To Look For In Your Poop

Your poop can tell you a lot about what’s happening inside your body. If you think you might have worms, there are some clear signs to watch for.

1. Worms or Worm Segments in Your Poop

The easiest way to tell if you have worms is if you actually see them in your poop. They can look like small, white, thread-like pieces or flat segments. Tapeworm pieces can look like grains of rice, while roundworms might look like spaghetti noodles.

Seeing worms in your poop can be scary, but it’s a sign that you need to see a doctor right away.

2. Mucus or Oily Stuff in Your Poop

Mucus in your poop isn’t always bad, but too much mucus can mean there is a problem. Certain worms can mess up your digestion, causing extra mucus or an oily, shiny look in your stool. If you see these changes and also have stomach cramps or feel sick, worms might be the reason.

3. Diarrhea or Constipation

Worms can cause changes in how often you need to go to the bathroom. You might have diarrhea one day and then be constipated the next. If you’re having these changes and other symptoms, you should see a doctor.

4. Dark or Bloody Poop

If your poop is dark or has blood in it, it could mean that worms are causing damage inside your intestines. Bloody stool can be serious, so you should see a doctor right away.

Other Symptoms of Worms

Changes in your poop are the main signs of worms, but there are other symptoms to watch for too:

Unexplained Weight Loss

If you’re losing weight without trying, it might be because worms are eating the nutrients from your food. This can make you lose weight even if you’re eating normally.

Feeling Tired and Weak

Worms can take away important vitamins and minerals from your body, making you feel tired and weak. If you’re feeling very tired even after sleeping well, worms could be the reason.

Stomach Pain or Bloating

Worms can upset your digestive system, causing cramps, pain, or a bloated feeling in your stomach. This is especially true for larger worms that can block parts of your intestines.

Itchy Butt

An itchy butt, especially at night, is a common sign of pinworms. Female pinworms lay their eggs around the anus, which causes itching. This is more common in children but can affect adults too.

How Do You Get Worms?

You might wonder how these worms got into your body in the first place. People usually get worms by eating contaminated food, drinking dirty water, walking barefoot on soil, or touching things that have worm eggs on them. Here are the main ways worms get into your system:

Contaminated Food or Water: Eating food or drinking water with worm eggs or larvae can make you sick. Undercooked meat, especially pork and beef, is a common source of tapeworms.
Poor Hygiene: Not washing your hands after using the bathroom or before eating can spread worm eggs. This is why pinworm infections are common in kids.
Touching Contaminated Surfaces: Walking barefoot in soil that has hookworm larvae can cause the larvae to enter through your skin.

How To Find Out If You Have Worms

If you think you might have worms, it’s important to see a doctor. They might ask for a sample of your poop to look for worms or their eggs. Sometimes, they may need to do a blood test or other tests if they think the worms have spread outside of your intestines.

How To Treat Worm Infections

The good news is that most worms can be treated with medicine. Your doctor will usually give you medicine to kill the worms. Some of the common medications are:

Mebendazole or Albendazole: These are used to treat pinworms, roundworms, and hookworms. They work by stopping the worm from taking in sugar, which eventually kills it.
Praziquantel: This medicine is used for tapeworms and works by damaging the worm’s outer skin, which causes it to die.

Make sure you follow your doctor’s instructions and take all the medicine so that all the worms are gone from your body.

How To Prevent Getting Worms

The best way to deal with worms is to not get them in the first place. Here are some tips to help you stay worm-free:

Practice Good Hygiene: Always wash your hands well with soap and water, especially after using the bathroom and before eating or making food.
Cook Food Well: Make sure meat, especially pork and beef, is cooked properly to kill any worms that might be in it.
Avoid Dirty Water: Only drink clean, treated water. Don’t swallow water from lakes or rivers.
Wear Shoes: Always wear shoes when you’re walking in places where the soil might be contaminated, like gardens or fields.

When To See a Doctor

If you notice anything strange about your poop, like seeing worms or segments, dark or bloody stools, or if you’re having diarrhea that won’t go away, it’s time to see a doctor. Getting treatment early can stop the worms from causing more problems and help you get healthy faster.

Worms are a common problem around the world, but they’re treatable if you catch them early. Checking your poop might not be the most fun thing to do, but it’s important for your health.