Tapeworm infections - Diagnosis 

If you think you have a tapeworm infection, speak to your GP for a diagnosis.

Infection with an adult tapeworm is diagnosed by finding eggs, larvae or segments from the tapeworm in your stools (poo). If the pork or beef tapeworm has caused the infection, any segments in your stool may be moving.

Your GP will give you a sterile container and ask you to provide a sample of your stools. They will probably also check the area around your anus for signs of tapeworm eggs or larvae.

Diagnosing a tapeworm larvae infection

Depending on the type of tapeworm, infection with tapeworm larvae may be diagnosed using:

• imaging techniques, such as a chest X-ray, ultrasound scan, computerised tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
• blood tests to check for antibodies to the infection
• tests to check if organs such as your liver are working normally