01/26/2026
“If you have almost any symptom, you need to deworm.” That’s not science — that’s marketing.
I understand why this image feels convincing. It lists a lot of common symptoms, and it makes it sound like parasites are the hidden cause of nearly everything. But medically, that’s not how parasites work — and this kind of post is usually designed to sell fear and then sell a cleanse.
1) Parasites are real — but they don’t cause everything
Yes, parasites exist. But they cause specific patterns of illness, not a random mix of fatigue, acne, anxiety, thyroid issues, and hormone imbalance.
This graphic is a red flag because it claims:
“If you have almost any symptom, you need to deworm.”
That’s not science — that’s marketing.
2) A list that includes “IBS, Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis, PCOS, endometriosis, thyroid issues, migraines, anxiety” is not a parasite diagnosis
Those are real medical conditions with known mechanisms and evidence-based treatments. Parasites are not the default explanation for them.
If parasites truly explained all of that, we would diagnose them constantly on routine testing — and we don’t.
3) Parasites have risk factors and clues — not vague symptoms
When I worry about parasites medically, it’s usually because of exposure + a consistent symptom pattern, such as:
• new persistent diarrhea, especially after travel
• untreated water exposure (camping, streams, lakes)
• significant weight loss without trying
• greasy, foul, floating stools (sometimes)
• blood in stool, depending on the organism
• fever + GI symptoms after high-risk exposure
• visible worms/segments in stool
• sometimes elevated eosinophils on bloodwork (not always)
Parasites don’t usually present as “everything feels off.”
4) The “deworming” mindset is risky because it skips diagnosis
The problem with taking a parasite cleanse “just in case” is that it can:
• delay the real diagnosis (IBS, SIBO, bile acid diarrhea, lactose/fructose intolerance, celiac, pancreatic insufficiency, IBD, thyroid disease, medication side effects, etc.)
• create side effects (nausea, diarrhea, liver irritation, drug interactions)
• make symptoms worse and confuse the picture
• costs a lot of money without proof of benefit
And when people feel worse, the seller often calls it “die-off,” which is not a reliable medical concept — it’s often just irritation or toxicity.
5) If parasites are truly a concern, I can test for them properly
Instead of guessing, we can be precise.
Depending on your symptoms and risk factors, we can use:
• stool PCR / GI pathogen panels (excellent for common protozoa like Giardia)
• stool ova & parasite exams (sometimes helpful, depending on scenario)
• targeted tests based on travel/exposure history
• bloodwork if needed
That’s the difference between medicine and internet marketing: I test, confirm, and treat the right thing.
6) Why do posts like this spread
This image works because it uses a trick: It lists symptoms that are extremely common, so almost anyone can “match” something on it.
If a checklist includes fatigue, bloating, headaches, skin issues, anxiety, insomnia, and weight changes… it will “diagnose” half the population. That doesn’t make it true — it makes it persuasive.
7) My recommendation
Let’s do this the right way: If your symptoms and risk factors are consistent with parasites, I’ll test and treat them appropriately.
• If they don’t fit, I don’t want you to spend money or take supplements that aren’t needed.
• Either way, we’ll focus on what is most likely and most treatable.
• You deserve answers — not fear-based sales tactics.
