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Parasites (Worms, Giardia, Lice, Scabies & More)

Most parasite infections are mild and treatable, but seizures, confusion, severe dehydration, bloody diarrhea, fever after travel to a malaria area, eye symptoms, or toxoplasmosis symptoms in pregnancy need urgent care. Herbal “parasite cleanses” are not proven to clear an infection.

Call 911 right away if someone has:

  • A seizure, sudden confusion, slurred speech or loss of consciousness. Severe malaria can cause seizures, mental confusion and coma (CDC); the NHS lists sudden confusion or slurred speech as an emergency in toxoplasmosis (NHS); and infection with pork tapeworm eggs (cysticercosis) can cause seizures (CDC).

Get medical help the same day (urgent care or the emergency room) for:

Do not try a “parasite cleanse” instead of care for any of these. Malaria is treated with prescription medicine, not herbal tea (see Herbal medicine).

What are parasites?

A parasite is an organism that lives on or in another living thing and gets its food from, or at the expense of, its host. CDC sorts the parasites that infect people into three groups: protozoa (one-celled organisms, such as Giardia and the malaria parasite), helminths (worms large enough to see in their adult form, including roundworms, flukes and tapeworms) and ectoparasites (ticks, fleas, lice and mites that attach to or burrow into the skin) (CDC).

Parasites are not only a problem in faraway places: CDC says parasitic infections affect people in the tropics and in temperate climates, including the United States, and malaria causes the most parasite deaths worldwide (CDC). For healthy people, an intestinal parasite infection often clears without treatment, and when treatment is needed it usually works; people with weakened immune systems, including those with HIV or cancer, can get severe, long-lasting diarrhea and other serious problems (MedlinePlus).

Parasites are not the answer to every stomach complaint: bloating, gas and loose stools have many causes — see our Digestion and Bowel Problems guides.

Common parasites, by how you are exposed

Intestinal worms

Pinworm is the most common worm infection in the United States. It mainly affects preschool and school-age children, people who care for them, and people in institutions. Female pinworms lay eggs on the skin around the anus at night, causing itching (sometimes poor sleep or restlessness); the eggs then travel on fingers, bedding, clothing and other objects, and can survive 2–3 weeks on them (CDC). The NHS adds that threadworms look like tiny white threads, and there is no need to stay home from school or work (NHS).

Roundworm (Ascaris), whipworm and hookworm are called soil-transmitted helminths. They live in the intestine and are spread by soil or water contaminated with human feces, mostly in warm, moist places with poor sanitation; hookworm larvae can enter through the skin, usually from walking barefoot on contaminated soil. Light infections often cause no symptoms; heavy ones can cause belly pain, diarrhea, blood and nutrient loss and, in children, slowed growth (CDC). The NHS says to see a doctor if you find a large worm or worm eggs in your stool, have an itchy worm-shaped skin rash, have nausea, diarrhea or stomach ache for more than 2 weeks, or are losing weight for no reason — and to mention travel in the last 2 years, since these infections can take a long time to cause symptoms (NHS). Strongyloides, another roundworm, also enters through bare skin in warm, wet regions; most people have no symptoms, but it can be severe or life-threatening in people with weakened immune systems, including those who take drugs that weaken immunity such as corticosteroids (CDC).

Tapeworms (beef, pork and Asian tapeworm) are caught by eating raw or undercooked beef or pork. Most people have mild or no symptoms, though passing worm segments in the stool is the most visible sign. The pork tapeworm matters most, because its eggs — passed in the stool of a person who carries the tapeworm — can cause cysticercosis when swallowed, in which larvae form cysts in muscle, brain and eye, sometimes causing seizures months to years later. Eating pork cannot give you cysticercosis (CDC, CDC). The tapeworm a dog or cat gets from a flea is a different parasite (CDC).

Parasites from water and food

Giardia causes more illness in the United States than any other intestinal parasite — over a million people a year. Symptoms usually begin 1 to 2 weeks after infection and last 2 to 6 weeks: diarrhea, gas, smelly, greasy stools that can float, cramps, nausea and dehydration. Swallowing just a few germs can make you sick, and you can be exposed through untreated lake, river or spring water, swimming-pool water, close contact with someone who is sick (especially in child care), or contaminated surfaces (CDC). Cryptosporidium (“Crypto”) causes watery diarrhea beginning about a week after infection (2–10 days) and lasting 1–2 weeks; most healthy people recover without treatment (CDC). Chlorine does not easily kill these parasites, so they can spread in pools and hot tubs (MedlinePlus).

Toxoplasmosis is caused by a parasite found worldwide. More than 40 million people in the United States are infected, and most healthy people have no symptoms; some get flu-like illness and swollen lymph nodes. You can catch it from undercooked meat or shellfish, unwashed produce, cat feces or soil contaminated with them, or from a newly infected mother during pregnancy. Severe disease can damage the brain, eyes or other organs (CDC).

Parasites from travel: malaria

Malaria is caused by a parasite spread by Anopheles mosquitoes. The roughly 2,000 U.S. cases in a typical year are mostly in people who caught it abroad, and it does not pass from person to person like a cold. Early symptoms are fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and tiredness (CDC); the NHS notes they usually show up 7 to 18 days after a bite but can take months (NHS). Tell any clinician where you have traveled.

External parasites: scabies, lice and bed bugs

Scabies is a skin infestation by a microscopic mite that burrows into the top layer of skin. Its hallmarks are intense itching, especially at night, and a pimple-like rash, often between the fingers and in the folds of the wrist, elbow, knee or armpit. It spreads mainly by prolonged skin-to-skin contact, sometimes through shared clothing, towels or bedding, and symptoms can take 4–8 weeks to appear the first time — during which you can still pass it on (CDC). It is not caught from pets (NHS).

Head lice are small insects that live on the scalp and feed on blood. Itching is the most common symptom but some people have none; lice spread mostly by head-to-head contact, not uncleanliness, and animals do not get or spread them (CDC). For treatment details see our Hair guide.

Bed bugs are small insects that bite people at night and feed on blood. They are not known to spread disease, but their bites cause itching and lost sleep, and how clean a place is does not decide whether they are there (CDC); the NHS says bites usually clear up on their own in a week or so (NHS). See our Insect Bites & Stings guide, which also covers fleas, ticks and mosquitoes.

What symptoms should make you think of a parasite?

Many parasite infections cause no symptoms. When they do, gut parasites tend to cause diarrhea, gas, cramps, nausea, foul-smelling greasy stools that float, weight loss, or blood and mucus in the stool; a provider is more likely to test if symptoms last more than a few days, you may have been exposed (travel, untreated stream or lake water, a sick contact) or your immune system is weak (MedlinePlus). Because other conditions cause the same symptoms, the safest first step is a conversation with a doctor.

Side by side

Six approaches compared

For every condition we look at the same six approaches: what each involves, what it typically costs, and what a patient can realistically expect.

ApproachWhat it involves Estimated costWhat to expect
Conventional medicine (AMA) Diagnosis by stool, blood or skin tests, then a medicine matched to the parasite (worm medicines, antiprotozoal medicines or antibiotics, antimalarials, creams for scabies), treating the household when needed, fluids for diarrhea, and prevention advice. Cost estimate being researched. Many gut infections clear in days to weeks; some need only fluids. Malaria, cysticercosis and infections in weak immune systems need prompt medical care.
Chiropractic No role in diagnosing or treating parasites. Not a treatment for parasites, so no cost is listed. Belly pain, itching, diarrhea or fever from a parasite needs a doctor, not an adjustment.
Acupuncture No role in clearing a parasite. We found little research on acupuncture for parasite infections. Not a treatment for parasites, so no cost is listed. Do not delay testing or treatment. Tell your practitioner about any active skin infestation first.
Herbal medicine No herb or “parasite cleanse” is proven to clear a parasite infection. Wormwood tea for malaria was tried in one small trial and was not recommended; papaya seeds were tried in two small child studies. Some herbal products have caused harm. Cost estimate being researched. Never replace a diagnosis or prescription treatment with a cleanse; malaria and cysticercosis can be serious. Tell your doctor about every supplement.
Massage therapy No role in treating parasites. Scabies and lice spread by close contact, so postpone massage until treatment is complete. Not a treatment for parasites, so no cost is listed. Gentle massage may help comfort once any infestation is treated. It does not treat the infection.
MBHA Wellness Coach Handwashing, safe water and food, travel preparation, household laundry and cleaning routines after treatment, hydration, and following the full treatment plan. Cost estimate being researched. These habits lower the chance of catching or re-catching a parasite. They support, never replace, medical care.

Approach 1 of 6

Conventional medicine (AMA)

Treatment depends on which parasite you have, so a correct diagnosis comes first (see below). We name medicines by type and don’t list doses — your clinician and pharmacist do that.

Worm medicines (anthelmintics)

  • Pinworm: over-the-counter and prescription medicines exist. They kill worms but not eggs, so treatment is two doses two weeks apart, and everyone in the household and caregivers should be treated at the same time (CDC).
  • Roundworm, whipworm and hookworm: in the U.S. only prescription medicines treat them; treatment lasts one to three days and is highly effective (CDC). Strongyloides is treated with antiparasitic drugs for as little as 1–2 days, or several weeks if severe (CDC).
  • Tapeworm: treatment is available after an accurate diagnosis (CDC). Cysticercosis is usually treated with antiparasitic plus anti-inflammatory drugs, sometimes surgery, and sometimes only the symptoms (such as seizures) (CDC).

Giardia, Crypto and toxoplasmosis

Many prescription medicines treat Giardia, but you may not need one if you have no symptoms; your doctor may still treat you if many people in your home are sick or you live with a pregnant woman, who can’t take the most effective medicines (CDC). The NHS says it is treated with antibiotics (NHS). Most healthy people recover from Crypto without treatment; an FDA-approved antiprotozoal is available by prescription for people with healthy immune systems who are at least one year old, and its effectiveness is unclear in weak immune systems (CDC); its label lists abdominal pain, headache, urine color changes and nausea as the most common side effects (DailyMed). Most healthy people need no treatment for toxoplasmosis; medicines, including antibiotics, are usually given in pregnancy, with a weakened immune system or with eye symptoms (NHS). With any diarrhea, drink plenty of fluids (CDC).

Malaria

CDC states that prescription drugs can treat and cure malaria; the drug and length depend on the type of malaria, where you were infected, how sick you are, your age and whether you are pregnant (CDC). Before a trip, ask a provider about preventive medicine, ideally 4 to 6 weeks ahead (NHS).

Scabies, lice and bed bugs

Scabies is treated with a prescription cream, lotion or pill that kills the mites; no non-prescription product has been tested and approved. Treat the household and close contacts at the same time, and wash bedding, clothing and towels used in the last three days in hot water (above 122°F for 10 minutes) and dry on hot, or seal them in a bag for several days. Itching can last weeks after the mites are dead; see a clinician if it persists two to four weeks after treatment or new burrows appear (CDC). One FDA scabies-cream label reports mild, temporary burning and stinging in about 10% of patients and says to use it in pregnancy only if clearly needed (DailyMed). Head lice can be treated with over-the-counter or prescription medicines (CDC); the NHS recommends wet combing first (NHS) — see the Hair guide. Bed bugs usually need professional pest control; bites rarely need medical treatment (CDC).

Why these are prescription medicines

These are real drugs with real risks, which is why diagnosis comes first. One FDA label for an anthelmintic used for brain-cyst and hydatid disease warns of bone marrow suppression (with deaths reported), liver enzyme elevations (about 16% of patients in trials) and possible fetal harm (DailyMed). A label for a chewable anthelmintic approved for pinworm, roundworm, hookworm and whipworm warns of convulsions in infants under a year (DailyMed).

What it costs

Cost estimate being researched for stool tests, blood tests and prescription medicines.

Find a medical doctor in our directory

Approach 2 of 6

Chiropractic

Chiropractic care has no role in diagnosing or treating parasites, and we found no evidence that spinal adjustment clears an infection. Where it matters is referral: belly pain, itching at night around the anus, unexplained weight loss, an itchy worm-shaped skin rash, or a fever after travel are signs for a doctor, not for an adjustment (CDC, NHS, CDC).

Safety: serious side effects of spinal manipulation are very rare, and the likelihood may be greater in people with underlying health problems, so tell any practitioner about a current infection or immune condition (NCCIH). Chiropractors who suspect a parasite should refer you for testing. Some also sell supplements; read the herbal section first.

Find a chiropractor in our directory

Approach 3 of 6

Acupuncture

Acupuncture does not remove parasites. In our PubMed searches we found little research on acupuncture for parasite infections, so we would not rely on it for any infection, and certainly not for malaria or cysticercosis.

Safety: relatively few complications of acupuncture have been reported, but nonsterile needles and improper treatment have caused harm (NCCIH). As an MBHA caution, finish treatment for an active skin infestation such as scabies or lice before booking, and tell your practitioner about it, since these spread through close contact (CDC, CDC). Cost: not a treatment for parasites, so no cost is listed.

Find an acupuncturist in our directory

Approach 4 of 6

Herbal medicine

No herb, tea, tincture or “parasite cleanse” is proven to clear a parasite infection in people. Malaria can be fatal, tapeworm-larvae infection of the brain can cause seizures, and a case report links one herbal tea to liver injury (below). See a doctor for testing before taking anything for a suspected parasite, and tell your doctor about every supplement you use.

What a supplement label may and may not say

The labels on dietary supplements cannot claim that the product can diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease; those claims are allowed only for drugs. Rules for making supplements are less strict than for medicines, the FDA can act against an unsafe product only after it is on the market, and supplements can interact with medicines (NCCIH). So a bottle that promises to “kill parasites” is making a claim the law does not allow on a supplement label.

Wormwood

Two different plants are called wormwood. Artemisia absinthium (the plant behind absinthe) has traditionally been used for helminth infections, and a 2020 review lists antiprotozoal activity among its reported biological activities (Szopa et al., 2020); we did not find trials in people showing that it clears parasites. A 2022 review says more clinical and toxicological research is needed and notes that absinthe is restricted in most countries because of neurotoxicity (Sharifi-Rad et al., 2022). Artemisia annua (annual wormwood) is the source of artemisinin, the basis of modern malaria drugs. In a small open pilot trial of traditional A. annua tea for uncomplicated malaria, cure rates after 7 days averaged 74% versus 91% with quinine, with high recurrence, so the authors concluded that the tea cannot be recommended as an alternative to modern antimalarials (Mueller et al., 2004). A 2023 case report describes a traveler who developed severe malaria despite regular A. annua tea, noting that its use as prevention is not recommended for lack of efficacy (Cohen et al., 2023). A 2019 case report describes severe acute cholestatic hepatitis (liver injury with jaundice) from A. annua tea used to prevent malaria; the authors conclude that using it for malaria prevention is ineffective and potentially harmful (Ruperti-Repilado et al., 2019). Case reports are single patients, so they show a possible link rather than proof.

Black walnut and clove

Black walnut and clove are herbs you may see in “parasite cleanse” products, but we found little research on either in people. Our PubMed searches for black walnut (Juglans nigra) mostly returned lab studies of its chemistry. For clove, we found a 2024 review of eugenol (a clove oil compound) and its lab-made derivatives against microbes and parasites, which calls some of them promising candidates for further drug development (Fernandes Melo Reis et al., 2024). That is a long way from showing that capsules or tinctures clear an infection in a person.

Papaya seeds, garlic and other foods

The best human data are small. In a 2007 pilot of 60 Nigerian children with no symptoms, a drink of dried papaya seeds with honey was compared with honey alone: 23 of 30 children in the seed group had no parasites on a repeat stool test a week later versus 5 of 30 given honey, with no harmful effects reported; the authors asked for larger studies against standard medicines (Okeniyi et al., 2007). A 2018 pilot in three Kenyan schools (one school per group, 326 children) found a lower roundworm egg count with papaya-seed porridge, but a standard deworming medicine lowered it more, and the authors call the results preliminary (Kugo et al., 2018). In mice infected with an intestinal fluke, dietary garlic did not change worm numbers (Cortés et al., 2017).

Tea tree oil and plant oils on the skin

A 2016 review found that tea tree oil killed scabies mites in the lab and had been used as an add-on for severe crusted scabies, and called for larger randomized trials (Thomas et al., 2016). For head lice, the NHS lists plant-oil treatments such as tea tree, eucalyptus and lavender oil as unlikely to work (NHS).

Cleanses in general

NCCIH, discussing detoxes and cleanses in general (not parasites specifically), says studies have been few and low-quality, that the FDA and FTC have acted against companies whose cleansing products had hidden ingredients or false claims of treating serious disease, and that programs including laxatives can cause diarrhea and dehydration (NCCIH). Diarrhea from a cleanse can also be mistaken for the symptoms you are trying to treat.

Approach 5 of 6

Massage therapy

Massage has no role in treating parasites. The main issue is spreading them: scabies passes through prolonged skin-to-skin contact (CDC) and head lice through direct hair contact (CDC). The NHS advises avoiding close physical contact until a full course of scabies treatment is complete (NHS), so as an MBHA caution, postpone massage, for clients and therapists alike, until any infestation is treated. Scabies itching can continue for weeks after the mites are gone (CDC); ask your clinician what is safe for your skin.

As a practical MBHA suggestion, with a gut infection wait until diarrhea has passed. In general, serious side effects of massage are rare, with some reports involving vigorous types (NCCIH). Cost: not a treatment for parasites, so no cost is listed.

Find a massage therapist in our directory

Approach 6 of 6

MBHA Wellness Coach

An MBHA Wellness Coach can help you build the everyday habits that make parasite infections less likely and easier to get past. A coach works alongside your clinician, never in place of one.

  • Hands first. Wash with soap for at least 20 seconds, especially after the toilet or diaper changes, after touching animals or soil, and before preparing or eating food; use a sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol only when soap isn’t available (CDC). Soap and water work better than sanitizer for intestinal parasites (MedlinePlus).
  • Treat the household together. For pinworm: short, clean nails, a shower each morning, fresh underwear, no shaking of bedding, and washing linens at 130°F or hotter (CDC). For scabies: wash and dry-heat clothing, towels and bedding from the previous three days (CDC).
  • Plan travel early. See a provider before a trip to a malaria area, use EPA-approved repellent, wear long sleeves and pants, especially in the late evening and at night, and keep windows and doors screened (CDC). A coach can help you build a pre-trip checklist.
  • Drink and eat safely. See Preventing parasites for water treatment and food temperatures.
  • Stay hydrated and rest during diarrhea (CDC).
  • Keep a simple log of symptoms, foods, water sources and travel. Providers ask about symptoms, travel and foods (CDC).
  • Finish the plan. Take medicines as prescribed and go back if symptoms last, for example if symptoms aren’t better in 2 weeks after worm treatment (NHS).
  • No shame. Lice and bed bugs are not about cleanliness (CDC, CDC).

Another approach

How parasites are diagnosed (and tests to question)

CDC says many kinds of lab tests diagnose parasitic diseases; which one is ordered depends on your symptoms, health conditions and travel history, and more than one may be needed (CDC).

  • Stool tests (ova and parasite exam): a microscope check for parasites and eggs. CDC recommends three or more samples collected on separate days, with special stains or tests for parasites not routinely screened for (CDC); parasites don’t show up every day, so one negative sample doesn’t always rule them out (MedlinePlus).
  • The pinworm “tape test”: clear tape pressed to the skin near the anus first thing in the morning, three mornings in a row (CDC).
  • Blood tests: each looks for a specific parasite — there is no blood test that will look for all parasitic infections (CDC). Malaria needs a blood sample (CDC); Strongyloides can be found by blood or stool test (CDC).
  • Imaging and scopes: brain cysts (neurocysticercosis) are found by MRI or CT (CDC); endoscopy is used when stool tests miss the cause (CDC).
  • Skin and hair: scabies is confirmed by finding mites, eggs or feces on a skin scraping, though you can have scabies even if none are found (CDC). Head lice are diagnosed by finding a live louse; CDC says misdiagnosis is common and nits are often mistaken for dandruff or hair spray (CDC).

Unvalidated tests and positive results

We did not find a government health source that evaluates mail-order or “comprehensive” parasite panels sold directly to consumers, so we can’t vouch for them. CDC says labs across the United States are qualified to diagnose parasites, that methods differ between labs, and that your provider may send a sample to more than one lab if suspicion is strong (CDC). Ask your doctor which test fits your symptoms. A positive result also doesn’t always mean the organism is causing your symptoms — a 2025 review notes that the clinical significance of Blastocystis, the protozoan most commonly identified in humans, is controversial (Ulusan Bağcı et al., 2025).

When no parasite is found

If testing finds nothing but you feel sure something is living in your skin or gut, tell your doctor. A 2009 review describes delusional infestation, a fixed belief of being infested despite medical evidence, notes that people with it often lose faith in professional medicine, and describes treatment options (Freudenmann et al., 2009). The goal is not to dismiss you, but to get you the right help.

Another approach

Preventing parasites: water, food, hands and travel

  • Water: boil lake, river or spring water for at least 1 minute (3 minutes above 6,500 feet) (CDC). Boiling is the best method; a filter certified to NSF Standard 53 or 58 removes parasites if used properly, while chemical disinfectants are less effective against Cryptosporidium and Giardia. Don’t drink iodine-disinfected water if you are pregnant or have thyroid problems (CDC).
  • Swimming: avoid swallowing water, and don’t swim if you have diarrhea (CDC, CDC).
  • Food: use a food thermometer — CDC’s USDA-based advice is at least 145°F with a three-minute rest for whole cuts of meat, 160°F for ground meat and 165°F for poultry (CDC), which also helps prevent tapeworm (CDC). Rinse produce under running water, avoid unpasteurized goat’s milk and raw or undercooked oysters, mussels or clams, and wash boards and counters with hot, soapy water (CDC); wash, peel or cook raw produce (CDC).
  • Hands, shoes and soil: wash hands at the key times (CDC); wear shoes on soil that may be contaminated, to prevent hookworm and Strongyloides (CDC, CDC), and gloves when gardening (CDC).
  • Travel: CDC advises factory-sealed bottled water or boiled or treated water, and avoiding ice, fresh salads, cut-up fruit, raw meat or seafood and street food where water or food may be unsafe (CDC). For malaria areas, ask your provider about preventive medicine and avoid mosquito bites (CDC). Check sleeping areas for bed bug signs such as shed skins or bugs in mattress folds (CDC).
  • Scabies and lice: avoid skin-to-skin contact with a person who has scabies and don’t share their clothing or bedding (CDC); avoid head-to-head contact and sharing hats, combs and towels for lice (CDC). The NHS says lice can’t be fully prevented and that lotions shouldn’t be used to prevent them (NHS).

Another approach

Pets and parasites

Pets are a smaller source of human parasites than many people fear, but a few matter. See our Animals & Pets guide for general pet care and the Insect Bites & Stings guide for fleas and ticks.

  • Cats and toxoplasmosis: cats play a key role in spreading it. Change the litter box daily (the parasite isn’t infectious until 1–5 days after it is shed), feed cats commercial or well-cooked food rather than raw meat, and wear gloves and wash hands after gardening (CDC).
  • Giardia: you are unlikely to get it from dogs or cats, since the type that makes people sick is usually not the type that infects pets (CDC).
  • Dogs: CDC lists cleaning up after dogs, which can also be infected with roundworm, as a way to prevent Strongyloides (CDC). The NHS advises deworming pet dogs and cats regularly and not letting children play where dog or cat feces are present (NHS).
  • Not from pets: pinworm (CDC), human head lice (CDC) and scabies (NHS) aren’t caught from or given to pets; the tapeworm in a pet is usually the flea tapeworm, and human infection is very rare (CDC).

Ask your veterinarian about parasite control for your own pets.

Another approach

Pregnancy and weakened immune systems

Pregnancy. CDC lists pregnant women as a group that should be cautious about toxoplasmosis: infants born to mothers newly infected during or just before pregnancy are at risk of severe disease, and many infected infants have no symptoms at birth but develop them later (CDC). The NHS says toxoplasmosis in pregnancy can cause miscarriage and, if it spreads to the baby, serious complications; it advises an urgent appointment if you are pregnant with symptoms (NHS). The cooking, produce and hand-washing steps in Preventing parasites apply. If you live with a pregnant woman and have Giardia, CDC says treatment may be recommended for you because she can’t take the most effective medicines (CDC). Some medicines are best avoided in pregnancy — one anthelmintic label advises against use unless there is no alternative (DailyMed) — so always tell your clinician you are pregnant.

Weakened immune systems. Toxoplasma can cause severe illness in people with HIV, those on certain chemotherapy and organ-transplant recipients (CDC), and Strongyloides can be severe or fatal in people with immune disorders or on corticosteroids (CDC). For Crypto, antiretroviral therapy can rebuild the immune system and reduce or eliminate symptoms in people with HIV, although the infection is often not curable and symptoms can return if immunity worsens (CDC). Giardia symptoms may last longer (CDC). If your immune system is weak and you have diarrhea, talk to your doctor early. See our HIV/AIDS guide.

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