Recently, social media feeds have raw testimonies about “parasitic purification” and detoxification of DIY worms. Many people may be unconsciously infected, claiming that Tiktok and Instagram influencers have a treatment that involves mixing herbal supplements and ene intestines.
Kim Rogers, an influencer who calls himself a “worm queen,” created important support by posting videos of what happened when he performed a parasite cleansing that turned into a viral in Tiktok, and posting videos that stem from infection with a variety of symptoms, such as brain fog and fatigue. She’s selling her treatment now. Even supermodel Heidi Krum said this week that after displaying information about parasites and worms on Instagram, he began cleaning up with tablets containing cloves and papaya seeds.
How do you catch parasites and worms? What are the symptoms? How do you know that you have a parasitic infection? What are these cleansers and do they work? If not, how can people get rid of the worms? And should people try them?
To help with these questions, I spoke with Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and auxiliary associate professor at George Washington University. She previously served as a health committee member in Baltimore.
CNN: How do you catch parasites and insects?
Dr. Wen’s Childhood: Let’s start with a simple definition and clarification. Parasites are organisms that live on or inside the host and feed them to survive. Many types of parasites affect external health such as lice and mites, as well as human health, including internal microscopic parasites such as giardia and cryptosporidium.
Parasites are one of the most common endoparasites in the gastrointestinal tract. People are usually infected by ingesting worm eggs and larvae through contaminated food, water or soil. High-risk foods include undercooked pork or beef, raw freshwater fish, and unwashed vegetables and fruits. Don’t wash your hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and before eating, which can also increase your risk of infection. In some cases, certain worms can penetrate directly into the skin, especially in areas with poor hygiene, when walking outdoors barefoot is the norm.
Such infectious diseases are rare in the United States and other high-income countries. Most documented cases occur among travelers who have returned from areas where parasites are more common, or among people with specific exposures, such as contact with infected animals. But worldwide, parasite infectious diseases are a global health threat. The World Health Organization says it affects an estimated 1.5 billion people (approximately 18% of the world’s population) mainly in tropical and subtropical regions.
CNN: What are the common types of intestinal parasites that infect humans? What symptoms do they cause?
Wen: Globally, the most common intestinal parasite that causes human infections is a type of roundworm that causes infectious microvasculasis. In the US, it is a pinworm.
Ascaliosis is often asymptomatic, meaning that infected people do not show signs of illness. When an infection causes symptoms, people can experience stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stool, loss of appetite and fever. The worm eggs migrate to the lungs and can cause symptoms such as coughing, vomiting blood, and shortness of breath.
Pinworm infection can also cause symptoms such as stomach pain, diarrhea and vomiting. Some people also have anal itching that wakes up from sleep. Others may be asymptomatic.
Various other intestinal parasites can cause severe symptoms, especially if left untreated over time. These complications include malnutrition, anemia, impaired and development of child growth, and maternal and infant mortality.
CNN: How does anyone know if you have a parasitic infection? How is it diagnosed?
Wen: A common test is a fecal stool test that searches for eggs and parasites in the stool. People are usually given instructions on how to collect specimen cups and stools. Some parasitic infections can be detected through blood tests. Endoscopy and colonoscopy where the camera is handed over to the gastrointestinal tract can be used for persistent symptoms and there is no clear diagnosis through other tests.
CNN: What are these cleansers driven by social media influencers and do they work?
Wen: These so-called “cleansing” or “detoxification” claim to be able to remove the body of intestinal worms. It often contains a variety of herbs, oils and supplements that are claimed to have antiparacic properties. In many cases, people are supposed to follow a specific diet that reduces high fat, high sugar, and ultra-high processing foods.
I certainly think a healthy diet full of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and other minimally processed foods is a good idea, but such a diet does not remove parasites. Furthermore, people need to know that supplements such as vitamins and herbs are not regulated like medications, so they don’t need to prove they work for the purposes they are being sold before they are sold. Additionally, these vitamins, oils, herbs and other supplements are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treatment of parasitic infections.
CNN: How can people get rid of worms if these cleansers don’t work?
Wen: There are various antiparasiidae drugs approved by the FDA to treat enteroinvas infections. Some of these treatments include a single dose. In other words, all you have to do is take one pill. Others have longer courses of treatment, but most courses still only last for 3 days. These treatments are extremely effective.
CNN: Your advice is to avoid trying these do-it-yourself cleansers?
Wen: I have three main concerns about these cleansings. First, if someone has symptoms that appear to be caused by a parasitic infection, you need to find out if it is really the case for a medical professional. For example, people with fatigue actually have nothing to do with parasites, such as thyroid problems or low iron levels. Abdominal symptoms can be due to many different causes, some of which may be linked to the infectious organism, but many do not. By self-treating like this, you don’t want to miss another diagnosis.
Secondly, if what someone has is truly a parasite infection, they need proper treatment. FDA approved drugs should be easy to use and target the specific worm in question.
What is the harm in some people trying to cleanse asymptomatic people? My third concern is that all treatments are risky. If you are not symptomatic and have no reason to use treatment, you should consider the risks to outweigh the benefits.
If people insist on trying cleansing anyway, I would recommend that they talk to their healthcare provider first. Supplements are not as closely regulated as medications, so people need to know exactly what they are taking.
If you are using prescription medications, you should ensure there are no dangerous drug interactions. And again, if you have symptoms that make them think they may have a parasite, they really need a proper diagnosis, if you try the formulas that these influencers recommend Without medical guidance, it can lead to misdiagnosis, delayed treatment, and even unintended harm.
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