If worms are not detected in the stool, ... Preventing Tapeworms in Humans. Tapeworms are uncommon in the U.S. today because of laws on feeding practices and inspection of the animals we use for food.

A tapeworm infection is usually diagnosed by finding eggs or tapeworm segments in the stool. Your doctor may ask you to bring in a sample so a lab can look for eggs, larvae, or tapeworm segments.

In humans, the infection is insidious, with an asymptomatic incubation period of between 5 and 15 years. Once the disease develops, about 90 percent of people will die within 10 years if they are ...

Tapeworm segments in human stool look like tiny grains of white rice that may be moving. Tapeworm may be seen in the toilet bowl or passing through the anus.

Humans can also contract tapeworms if they have contact with animal feces or contaminated water. When an infection passes from an animal to a human, it is called zoonosis.

There are parasites all over the world that can infect humans. Some of them are easy to avoid, but others are more common ...

Tapeworm larvae can survive outside of their human hosts. If pigs graze on vegetation that is contaminated with human feces containing the eggs or larvae (known as cysticerci), these are then ...