Dealing With Headaches

Because when you think headahche you think…tapeworms? Aren’t you glad you stopped to read this blog today. Yes, it’s Monday and what says “Monday” more than contemplating internal parasites?

Now, the chances of you actually having tapeworms are kind of slim, unless you live south of the equator. People in the land of Oz are all too familiar with the signs of tapeworms, for example. But if you eat raw meat, no matter where you live, you put yourself at risk for tapeworms. Although they are really freaky, tapeworms are one of the more benign internal parasites you can have. You still don’t want to invite them in (not unless they pay rent in cash), but things could be worse. You could have heartworms, for example. They suck — literally.

Symptoms of Tapeworm Infestation

Now that you’re frantically paranoid, let’s look at the symptoms that may indicate that you are carrying around some tapeworm immagrants. Keep in mind that you can have tapeworms and not show any symptoms. That means they aren’t taking a lot out of your body yet.

You have to have at least two of these symtpoms to seriously consider tapeworms to be a possibilty. Just having a headache does not necessarily mean that you have tapeworms. OK? Here we go:

• Nausea
• Weakness or dizziness
• Sudden weight loss (kind of a giveaway right there)
• Loss of appetite
• Loose, runny stools
• Abdominal pain or cramping

Later on, symptoms will get more severe. This is usually where the headaches start, because you will have a fever. You may also start to get strange lumps and bumps. In the worst case scenario, you set seizures and neurolgical problems because some tapeworm got into your nervous system.

Worst Case Scenario

But say you are having all these and you still haven’t gone to the doctor and still aren’t convinced it could be tapeworms. When you go to the toilet and a worm comes out that’s a few inches long, then you’ll know. After you pick yourself up off of the floor, grab the tapeworm and bring it to the doctor’s office. In this way, they can determine really fast what meds you’ll need. That, and you can take comfort watching the office staff scream.

Just using the normal hygene and hand washing routines those in the West have grown up with can prevent tapeworms. Drugs taken include albendazole and praziquantil. Surgery is only necsearry if the worms have done some damage to your internal organs.

Now back to your regularly sheduled Monday, already in progress.