- Tapeworm larvae or eggs enter the body through contaminated food.
- The tapeworm grows in the intestines and attaches itself to the intestinal wall.
- The tapeworm grows into a segmented body. Sometimes the segments break off and you can see tapeworm segments in stool.
- The tapeworm also produces more eggs that end up in human stool.
- Tapeworm infections in humans can happen when spheres from the parasite enter the bloodstream. This can cause cysts in the liver, brain, or other organs.
What Does a Tapeworm Look Like?
When you see a picture of a tapeworm, you will notice that the parasite looks like a long, segmented worm.
Doctors from the National Health Services say that tapeworms can resemble a measuring tape because they are flat and look like a ribbon. When you have a tapeworm infection, your poop may also show signs of a tapeworm in it. Parts of tapeworm in stool can look like grains of white or yellow rice that wriggle around.4
