Did I Really Swallow a Tapeworm, and What Happens Next?

So, you think you accidentally swallowed a tapeworm? Whether it was from eating raw meat or drinking contaminated water, it’s in your body now, so let’s talk about what happens next.

First off, if you ingested a tapeworm larva, it can get quite comfortable in your intestines. It will latch onto your intestinal wall and start growing, potentially reaching up to 8 meters in length over the next 25 years. It will snack on the food you eat and lay eggs, which you might spot in your toilet. Otherwise, you might not even realize you have a tapeworm living inside you. Over time, you and your new wormy companion could end up coexisting quite peacefully.

The second scenario is if you swallowed a tapeworm egg. These eggs are more adventurous—they don’t stay in your gut but find their way into your bloodstream. They can then embed themselves in your muscles and develop into larvae. The real trouble begins if they reach your brain. Tapeworm larvae in the brain can cause seizures and are a major cause of epilepsy around the world.

The good news? Both situations are treatable with a single pill. However, the long-term solution is improving sanitation and ensuring food and water safety to prevent such occurrences in the first place.

So, while having a tapeworm isn’t ideal, it’s manageable. Just remember, clean food and water are your best defense.