Ask a doctor on the topic of Other questions to doctors

Are worm eggs really ruled out?

April 8, 2016 | 15,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Frauke Gehring

Hello everyone,

A few years ago, I noticed a white "thread" in my stool (about 2-3 millimeters long, 0.5 millimeters thick), which made me uneasy and prompted me to have a stool sample examined by a doctor: it came back negative.

When I saw these threads again, I examined my stool myself and noticed brown, fuzzy, oval objects about 1-2 millimeters in size. When crushed, they burst open and these "threads" appear.

Based on advice from a layman forum (http://www.medizin-forum.de/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=129235), where I had also posted pictures (unfortunately the link to the high-resolution, large version is currently not working), I have now been back to the doctor and showed him these "eggs" (?!)

However, he said with 100% certainty that despite the suspicious "contents", they are not worm eggs, as these can only be identified - if at all - under a microscope, whether they are roundworms, threadworms, tapeworms or any other type of worm.

So now the question for a second opinion. Without needing to know exactly what it really is (although hypotheses are welcome): can it really be ruled out with certainty - in other words, is there a possibility (or in this case certainty) - that despite the description and pictures, they are not worm eggs? And therefore, did everyone who had expressed their opinion in the forum have no idea?

A few more details: I don't consciously feel any acute itching in the anus. Occasionally, my toilet paper may be slightly bloody when I wipe, but this could also be due to small wounds in the skin.

Thank you in advance!

PS Please respond with as clear statements as possible.

Dr. med. Frauke Gehring

Good day,

I only read in the forum that these could be worm eggs, and of course that is only the case until proven otherwise. In fact, worm eggs can only be identified under a microscope, and they are so distinctive that they cannot be overlooked. So in this case, it is likely to be partially digested tomato seeds, etc. (worm eggs are also much lighter). Worms also move, so it can be assumed that the white threads were simply mucous threads, as can sometimes occur with irritated intestinal mucosa.

Worms also cause clear symptoms such as severe itching or weight loss.

So you can trust the stool sample and be sure that you do not have any.

Sincerely, Dr. Höllering