It is actually possible to feel worms moving around in your stomach, but it depends on the type and number of worms present. Intestinal worms, also known as parasitic worms or helminths, are organisms that can live in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals. There are several different types of intestinal worms, including tapeworms, pinworms, roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms.
Can you feel tapeworms moving in your stomach?
Tapeworms are long, flat worms that attach themselves to the intestinal wall. An adult tapeworm can reach over 15 feet in length! Tapeworms have segmented bodies and can shed segments containing eggs that are passed in the feces and can infect others. The common symptoms of a tapeworm infection include abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and loss of appetite. Some people may feel sensations of the tapeworm moving inside the intestines, especially if it is a heavy infection with large worms. The moving sensations are likely the result of the worm contracting and moving about within the intestines.
What does it feel like when pinworms move in your stomach?
Pinworms, also known as threadworms, are small parasitic worms that live in the large intestine and colon. An infection with pinworms is called enterobiasis. The most common symptom of pinworms is intense itching around the anus caused by the female worms laying eggs there. This often leads to disturbed sleep. Unlike tapeworms, pinworms rarely grow longer than about one inch in length. Because of their small size, most people do not feel the actual worms moving inside the intestines. The itching is usually the main symptom prompting people to seek treatment.
Can you feel roundworms in your stomach?
Roundworms are parasitic nematodes that live freely in the intestinal tract. There are several types that infect humans including Ascaris lumbricoides, Ancylostoma duodenale, Necator americanus, and Strongyloides stercoralis. These worms are larger than pinworms, typically from 5 to 15 inches long when mature. Roundworm infections are extremely common worldwide, especially in areas with poor sanitation. Light infestations often cause no symptoms. Moderate or heavy infestations can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, gas, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, malnutrition, intestinal blockages, stunted growth in children, and impaired cognitive development. In moderate or heavy infestations, some people report being able to feel the worms moving in the intestines, stomach, throat, or nose!
Can you feel hookworms moving?
Hookworms are small parasitic roundworms that attach themselves to the intestinal wall and feed on your blood. This can lead to anemia if there are large numbers of worms. There are two main species that infect humans, Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus. Hookworms are only about 1/4 inch long so they are usually too small to be felt moving inside you. The most common symptoms are itchy rashes where the worms penetrate the skin, abdominal pain, diarrhea, decreased appetite, weight loss, and anemia from blood loss. But heavy infestations in the intestines may potentially be felt moving by some individuals.
What does it feel like if you have whipworms?
Whipworms, or Trichuris trichiura, are intestinal parasites that get their name from their whip-like shape. They are thicker at one end. Whipworm eggs are ingested from contaminated food or water and mature into worms that attach to the inner lining of the large intestine. Symptoms of whipworms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, rectal prolapse in children, and anemia. Whipworms reach about 2 to 4 inches in length when fully grown. This is large enough that some people may feel movement or wiggling sensations from heavy whipworm infections in the colon.
Can you feel worms moving in your stomach if you don’t have an infestation?
It would be very unlikely to feel worms moving in your stomach unless you have an active parasitic worm infestation. The sensations of worm movement reported by people with intestinal worms are due to the presence of live worms, not imagined. Even just one or two worms would probably go unnoticed and unfelt. But larger numbers of worms, especially longer roundworms reaching 5 inches or longer, could create sensations of writhing or movement that some individuals may perceive.
What does it feel like to have a worm crawl out of your skin?
Having a worm crawl out of your skin would feel very alarming and creepy! But while extremely rare, this can potentially happen in a few worm infections:
- Cutaneous larva migrans – an itchy skin rash caused by hookworm larvae migrating under the skin
- Loa loa filariasis – eye worm caused by larvae of the Loa loa roundworm moving under the skin and eyes
- Dracunculiasis – infection by the Guinea worm which emerges slowly from the skin, usually legs
You may feel stinging, burning, or itching as part of the skin reacts to the worm. There may also be pain, swelling, inflammation, and even secondary infections around the site of the emerging worm. Actually seeing and feeling a worm emerging would obviously be very disturbing and uncomfortable!
Can certain foods give you a worm-like feeling in your stomach?
There are no foods that would normally create a sensation of worms moving in your stomach. However, there are some examples of foods, ingredients, and conditions that may give a feeling reminiscent of worms writhing around:
- Dried noodles or nut skins – these thrive in the intestine and can feel wiggly while being digested
- Carbonated beverages – bubbles and gurgling could feel mildly similar to worm movement
- Gas and digestive issues – excess gas and intestinal cramping/pain could feel worm-like
- Irritable bowel syndrome – abdominal pain and muscle spasms might suggest worm sensations
If you don’t already have worms, these foods or events should not lead to actual worm infections. But they may temporarily create odd abdominal sensations that the mind could interpret as worms.
What does it mean if you feel like you have worms but tests are negative?
There are a few possible reasons why you may feel like you have intestinal worms but stool tests come back negative:
- False negative test – these do happen and repeat testing may be needed
- Very low level infection – too small to detect on tests
- Recent infection – worms or eggs may not show up right away
- Wrong test used – not all tests check for all worm types
- Actual absence of worms – sensations are being caused by something else
Some conditions that could feel like worms but have negative worm test results include:
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Celiac disease
- Crohn’s disease
- Intestinal adhesions or scarring
- Food intolerances like lactose intolerance
- Gas and bloating issues
- Pelvic floor dysfunction
- Anxiety or somatic symptom disorder
Keep communicating with your doctor if you continue to feel like something is wrong. Repeating stool tests, trying elimination diets, or medical imaging may be needed to get to the bottom of unexplained abdominal sensations.
What home remedies help kill worms in your stomach?
There are several home remedies thought to help expel or kill intestinal worms. However, note that these are not scientifically proven cures and medical treatment may still be needed. Potential home remedies to try in addition to medication include:
- Pumpkin seeds – contains a compound to paralyze worms
- Papaya seeds – contain anthelmintic compounds
- Garlic – allicin may have anti-parasitic effects
- Turmeric – curry and curcumin may paralyze worms
- Pineapple – contains digestive enzymes like bromelain
- Diatomaceous earth – abrasive powder that may kill worms
- Coconut oil – lauric acid may have anti-parasitic properties
- Raw carrots – high fiber content moves worms out of intestines
- Aloe vera – aids digestion and may expel worms
A healthy diet high in fiber, drinking plenty of fluids, proper hygiene, handwashing, and adequate cooking of foods can help prevent reinfection. Speak to your doctor before using supplements or herbal remedies intended to treat worms.
When to see a doctor for possible worm infestation
You should make an appointment with your doctor if you notice any persistent signs and symptoms that could indicate an intestinal worm infection, such as:
- Abdominal pain, tenderness, or discomfort
- Bloating or distension
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Gas or flatulence
- Feeling like something is moving in your stomach or intestines
- Visible worms in stool
- Blood or mucus in stool
- Anal itching, especially at night
- Weight loss or decreased appetite
- Anemia
- Fatigue and lethargy
- Problems with growth and development in children
Your doctor can order stool tests to check for the presence of worms or eggs. They may also recommend blood tests, an endoscopy procedure, CT scan, or colonoscopy to examine different parts of the digestive tract. Based on test results and symptoms, your doctor will be able to prescribe appropriate anti-worm medications to kill the parasites.
Conclusion
Feeling worms move in your stomach or intestines can certainly be alarming and uncomfortable. However, it typically only occurs in people who have an active helminth infection with larger worms like tapeworms, roundworms, or whipworms. Milder infections with smaller worms usually do not cause sensation of movement. While home remedies may help, medical treatment is still needed to fully eliminate intestinal worms. See your doctor if you have any unexplained digestive symptoms for proper evaluation and care.