# Can you have worms in your nose? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 13, 2015, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-have-worms-in-your-nose/712532 "2015-02-13T02:46:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-have-worms-in-your-nose/712532/1 "2015-02-13T02:46:51Z")
Hi, Ok this may sound weird but I think its possible. Basically I ate some undercooked pork about 3 weeks ago. I didn’t mean to, but the pork was a bit pink. Anyways I didn’t think much of it. But lately I have been finding odd white stringy things in my nose. Like, they look like rice almost. I am really scared I have some sort of pin worms or tape worms in my nose. These really do look like small white worms. I cannot see a clear head or legs though. They do appear a bit flat though. It’s not mucus either or stringy. It’s like a solid structure kinda. I have read this is possible. I live in the USA and have never traveled outside of the usa. But still, I keep finding these white worm looking things in my nose. They are about the size of a white grain of rice. I thought it was just mucus dried up at first or dried boogers. But the thing is, the last few days I have found these over and over again. They look pretty similar to each other too. I am worried. Is it possible I have worms in my nose? I have read it’s possible to not possible online. I figured I would ask the question here. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-have-worms-in-your-nose/712532/2 "2015-02-13T03:15:32Z")
I read pork tape worms can travel to your nasal passage and then to your brain. It’s kinda rare but still. I am worried I could have this. ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-have-worms-in-your-nose/712532/3 "2015-02-13T03:19:07Z")
he’s baaaack. See a doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-have-worms-in-your-nose/712532/4 "2015-02-13T03:20:02Z")
How in the world are you still here? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-have-worms-in-your-nose/712532/5 "2015-02-13T03:30:01Z")
They come from the beans in your ear. Take 'em out. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-have-worms-in-your-nose/712532/6 "2015-02-13T03:31:10Z")
Yes, you can have anything you want in your nose. Far as I know there’s no law against it. Better check with a lawyer though. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-have-worms-in-your-nose/712532/7 "2015-02-13T03:46:14Z")
Guys I know I worry about a lot of stuff but this is different. I was never worried about this until I found the potential worms. I just want some hard cold truth here about worms living in the nasal passage. How rare would this be in the USA? I have done research and found many sites claiming it’s common while others say its not possible unless a fly laid maggots on my nose. Which of course it did not. There is also the pork tape worm that could be the cause too. So thats possible. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-have-worms-in-your-nose/712532/8 "2015-02-13T04:07:50Z")
…And the worms ate into his brain. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-have-worms-in-your-nose/712532/9 "2015-02-13T04:13:50Z")
If you think there are parasites living inside your brain, you should not be posting about it on a message board. You should be seeking medical attention. If you are posting nonsense on message boards because you need attention, you should also be seeking medical attention. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-have-worms-in-your-nose/712532/10 "2015-02-13T04:15:56Z")
> [@ineedthetruth](#): > > I have done research and found many sites claiming it’s common while others say its not possible unless a fly laid maggots on my nose. Which of course it did not. But _how can you be sure?!_ :eek: I mean, it is possible, right?? ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-have-worms-in-your-nose/712532/11 "2015-02-13T04:15:59Z")
Those are just bees eggs. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-have-worms-in-your-nose/712532/12 "2015-02-13T04:23:22Z")
I’m gonna see a doctor. I was just curious what you guys thought. Is this possible in the usa? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-have-worms-in-your-nose/712532/13 "2015-02-13T04:26:25Z")
[Russian accent] In USA, anything is possible! ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-have-worms-in-your-nose/712532/14 "2015-02-13T04:32:03Z")
> [@ineedthetruth](#): > > I cannot see a clear head or legs though. If I pulled a worm out of my nose, that’d be bad. If I pulled out a worm with legs I’d poop my pants. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-have-worms-in-your-nose/712532/15 "2015-02-13T04:34:57Z")
See a doctor. Seriously, most of us on here aren’t qualified and the few that are aren’t going to diagnose you over the internet. Do you have a doctor? See him or her. If you don’t have one, find one. Personally, if I were concerned that worms were heading to my brain, you couldn’t keep me away from a doctor. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-have-worms-in-your-nose/712532/16 "2015-02-13T04:56:38Z")
Thanks guys. I just dont have a doctor or the money right now. Surely the worms arn’t in my nose. There must be an explanation. It must just be boogers that look like worms. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-have-worms-in-your-nose/712532/17 "2015-02-13T05:13:53Z")
If you got worms in your nose from eating undercooked pork (which you very probably didn’t), then you also have worms throughout your digestive system and maybe your lungs and maybe elsewhere (which you probably don’t). But only a doctor who examines you in person knows for sure. Why don’t you have a doctor? Are you able to get insurance? Obamacare? Medicare? Medicaid? You could try getting yourself on disability, if you aren’t already. (And I’m not referring to being disabled due to acute riceboogers.) The disease most feared due to eating undercooked pork is Trichinosis. The danger of this has been waaaaaay reduced in the United States in the past 20 years or so due to a whole bunch of animal care laws and regulations. See the Wikipedia article on [Trichinosis](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichinosis) for an overview. New cases have been _very_ infrequent, and usually arise from eating undercooked _wild_ game or home-raised pigs. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-have-worms-in-your-nose/712532/18 "2015-02-13T05:15:08Z")
You know what’s not up your nose? A doctor. You should rectify that little error by getting a doctor up in there as soon as possible. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-have-worms-in-your-nose/712532/19 "2015-02-13T05:18:52Z")
> [@ineedthetruth](#): > > Thanks guys. I just dont have a doctor or the money right now. Surely the worms arn’t in my nose. There must be an explanation. It must just be boogers that look like worms. Or worms that look like boogers, Evolution, you know. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-have-worms-in-your-nose/712532/21 "2015-02-13T06:58:18Z")
Of course it could be worms! When they’re in the nose like that, you get them out with a crochet hook through the left ear. A really pointy one. The hook grabs the worms by their little legs. I’d mention the more careful (and thorough) method of orbital insertion, but we wouldn’t want the OP to accidentally lobotomize himself or anything. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-have-worms-in-your-nose/712532.md?page=2)