tapeworm

[jacquimac]

I have just been diagnosed as B12 deficient and am taking oral B12 for a week. I was looking it up on line, and it mentioned fish tapeworm. We found a worm in our toilet about 4 years ago. We took it, still alive to the doctor and they said they didn't know what it was, so to take it to the vet. They couldn't say either. My son was given a general worming treatment, as he had last used the toilet.
I have just checked my stool, and have seen little things that look like very tiny flat pieces of sweetcorn, and am worried I could have had the tapeworm for 4 years. Websites say there will only be major problems if you have had the worm for a long time. What are those problems, as none of the websites seem to say? Sorry for the long question. I am just unable to get to the doctor for 3 days.
Thanks for any information you can give me.

[patient915]

You may have seen a worm in your toliet, but that doesn't mean it is a tape worm.  I think it was irresponsible of your doctor to provide medicine without determining if he had a problem.  The way your collect a stool sample in anyone that is potty trained (which i assume a 6 year old is) is to put a "hat" in the back of the toliet to collect the stool when the child uses the bathroom.  Then you transfer that to the containers to give to the lab.  You will almost always have had significant weight loss if you have had a tape worm for 4 years.  You will also develop various signs of malnutrition.

[jacquimac]

Thank you so much for answering.
I know they are very rare here in Northern Ireland, but we did find one in our toilet almost 4 years ago. We even took photos of it.
The doctor told us to check his stool, but gave the worming medicine and said to give it to him anyway. I didn't know what I was looking for, and find it difficult to collect a child's stool sample. He was only 6 at the time, so didn't tell us in advance if he was going to the toilet.
Do you know what the problems are that may develop after a long period of having a tapeworm?
Thanks again for your reply.

[patient915]

Welcome to the gastroenterology community!  B12 deficiency is almost never due to a tapeworm.  Tapeworms are extremely extremely rare in developed countries.  Where do you live?  Have you been out of the country recently?  I don't think you need to worry about a tapeworm at all.  Was your son given a stool test before he was prescribed treatment?  Have you had any unexplained weight loss?