What Tapeworms Do to Humans?

The most serious symptoms happen when tapeworm larvae invade parts of your body outside the intestines. You may have serious problems with your nervous system, including seizures, or you could get headaches, masses or lumps, allergic reactions to the larvae, or problems with your vision.

How do tapeworms affect humans?

Digestive blockage.

If tapeworms grow large enough, they can block your appendix, leading to infection (appendicitis); your bile ducts, which carry bile from your liver and gallbladder to your intestine; or your pancreatic duct, which carries digestive fluids from your pancreas to your intestine.

How do humans get tapeworms?

Tapeworms are flat worms that can live in the intestines. Humans can get these worms after eating the undercooked meat of an infected animal. This includes infected pork, beef, or fish. Dogs and cats can also get tapeworms, but their infections rarely pass to humans.