And there are many other ways of contracting a parasite. Once a parasite gets into your body, it can manifest in a number of different ways. Some, like cryptosporidium , can settle into your small intestine and cause watery diarrhea , while others, like malaria, enter your bloodstream , causing fever, chills, body aches, and an enlarged liver. Intestinal parasites tend to get the most attention, and with good reason: They can cause some pretty intense symptoms:.
By nature, intestinal parasites take root in your gastrointestinal GI tract. Watery diarrhea , bloody diarrhea, bloating, gas, and constipation can all be symptoms of parasites, he says. A parasitic infection can be hard on your body, and that can lead to feelings of fatigue and exhaustion, Bhanot.
But certain intestinal parasites, like Giardia , can actually cause chronic fatigue syndrome —causing deficiencies and malabsorption of certain nutrients like iron and B Unexplained rashes, hives, rosacea, or eczema can be a result of an intestinal parasitic infection, Romero says. The mechanism behind it is a little complex: Intestinal parasites can stimulate the production of immunoglobulin E IgE , antibodies made by your immune system.
That can then produce allergic reactions in your body, including skin problems, Romero says. Some intestinal parasites can work your way into your muscles , causing aches and pains, Romero says.
Trichinosis, which is caused by a type of roundworm, is one of them. You can get trichinosis by eating undercooked meat. Certain infections caused by hookworms and whipworms can cause blood loss, leading to iron-deficiency anemia. The worms actually feed on your blood , causing the anemia, Adalja says. People always joke about how they must have an intestinal parasite if they feel hungry all the time, but this can be a real symptom of an infection. Tapeworms, for example, hatch in the stomach and feed on what you eat , Romero says.
The release of IgE in your body after contracting a parasite infection can cause itching, but specific parasites like pinworms can cause localized itching, Romero says. Some intestinal parasites like the worm Ascaris can move through your body, Romero says. That includes relocating to your chest , where it can cause a cough.
An intestinal parasite can cause extra gas to build up in your GI tract, leading to bloating. The parasite giardia can cause this, along with a distended stomach.
People infected with the parasitic worm Ascaris , for example, usually have no symptoms. Your medical provider will need to test you to confirm that you do, in fact, have a parasite and to try to determine what it is. There are a few different ways to test for a parasite:. A stool test involves taking a sample of your stool and analyzing it for the presence of a parasite. Without a host, a parasite cannot live, grow and multiply. For this reason, it rarely kills the host, but it can spread diseases, and some of these can be fatal.
Parasites, unlike predators, are usually much smaller than their host and they reproduce at a faster rate. Parasites vary widely. Around 70 percent are not visible to the human eye, such as the malarial parasite, but some worm parasites can reach over 30 meters in length.
Parasites are not a disease, but they can spread diseases. Different parasites have different effects. These live inside the host. They include heartworm, tapeworm , and flatworms. They include bacteria and viruses. Endoparasites rely on a third organism, known as the vector, or carrier.
The vector transmits the endoparasite to the host. The mosquito is a vector for many parasites, including the protozoan known as Plasmodium, which causes malaria. These feed on other parasites in a relationship known as hyperparasitism. A flea lives on a dog, but the flea may have a protozoan in its digestive tract. The protozoan is the hyperparasite.
Protozoa : Examples include the single-celled organism known as Plasmodium. A protozoa can only multiply, or divide, within the host.
Helminths : These are worm parasites. Schistosomiasis is caused by a helminth. Other examples include roundworm, pinworm, trichina spiralis, tapeworm, and fluke. Ectoparasites : These live on, rather than in their hosts. They include lice and fleas. There are many types of parasite, and symptoms can vary widely. Sometimes these may resemble the symptoms of other conditions, such as a hormone deficiency, pneumonia , or food poisoning.
Often there are no symptoms, or symptoms appear long after infection, but the parasite can still be transmitted to another person, who may develop symptoms. Many types of parasites can affect humans. Here are some examples of parasites and the diseases they can cause. This tiny ameba can affect the eye, the skin, and the brain. It exists all over the world in water and soil. Individuals can become infected if they clean contact lenses with tap water. This disease that comes from parasites that are spread by ticks.
It affects the red blood cells. The risk is highest in summer in the Northeast and upper Midwest of the United States. This is passed on by Balatidium coli , a single-cell parasite that usually infects pigs but can, in rare cases, cause intestinal infection in humans.
It can be spread through direct contact with pigs or by drinking contaminated water, usually in tropical regions. This affects the intestines. The blastocystis enters humans through the fecal-oral route. A person can get it by eating food or drink contaminated with human or animal feces where the parasite is present. Coccidia is passed on through the fecal-oral route. It is found around the world. It can also affect dogs and cats, but these are different kinds.
Dogs, cats, and humans cannot normally infect each other. This is caused by the parasite Entamoeba histolytica. It affects the intestines. It is more likely in tropical regions and in areas with high population density and poor sanitation.
It is transmitted through the fecal-oral route. If humans ingest food or water contaminated with feces, dormant cysts may infect the body. This disease is caused by the Cystoisospora belli , previously known as Isospora belli. It affects the epithelial cells of the small intestine. It exists worldwide and is both treatable and preventable. It is passed on through the fecal-oral route.
This is a disease that is passed on by parasites of the Leishmania family. It can affect the skin, the viscera, or the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth, and throat. It can be fatal. As with any therapy, you should work with your doctor to diagnose your problem before starting treatment. You may use herbs as dried extracts capsules, powders, or teas , glycerites glycerine extracts , or tinctures alcohol extracts.
People with a history of alcoholism should not take tinctures. Many of the herbs used to treat intestinal parasites have toxic side effects or interfere with other medications. Use them only under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. Your health care provider should treat you with the most gentle herb that is effective for the type of parasite you have. A few of the herbs that your provider might consider include:. As with other treatments, your health care provider must first diagnose the kind of parasite you have.
Before prescribing a remedy, homeopaths take into account a person's constitutional type, includes your physical, emotional, and intellectual makeup. An experienced homeopath assesses all of these factors, as well as any current symptoms, when determining the most appropriate remedy for a particular individual.
The following remedies may be used:. Your doctor will retest your stool to be sure your parasite is gone, and will give you advice to help you avoid getting infected again. Follow these instructions carefully. Getting a parasite a second time can cause more serious health problems.
The seriousness and length of illness varies with the specific intestinal parasite. Complications happen more often in older people, and in people who already have serious illnesses, such as AIDS. Intestinal parasites can be more serious if you are pregnant. Your doctor will tell you which drugs are safe to take during pregnancy. Your doctor should closely monitor any treatment for intestinal parasites during pregnancy. The global war against intestinal parasites--should we use a holistic approach?
Int J Infect Dis. Use of homeopathic preparations in phytopathological models and in field trials: a critical review. Not restricted to underdeveloped countries, parasitic infections also exists in many developing or developed countries around the world. It can affect anyone belonging to any gender, race or socioeconomic status. Many people are unaware that they are suffering from a parasitic infection and it could be a contributing factor to many chronic health problems.
A parasite is an organism that lives by feeding off another organism, often called a host. Parasites release toxins into your bloodstream and this may cause symptoms similar to various gastrointestinal conditions. Additionally, some intestinal parasites are large enough to be seen with the naked eye and may appear as white thread-like creatures in stools.
For instance, some parasites may consume your food and leave you hungry after meals, resulting in an inability to gain weight. Others may feed off your red blood cells causing anaemia or lay eggs resulting in itching, irritability, and even insomnia. Anyone can contract a parasitic infection and some people are at higher risk because of certain reasons. One of the most common ways of contracting this type of condition is through contaminated food such as undercooked meat or drinking unclean water.
You are also at risk of a parasitic infection through contact with contaminated faeces, which could spread due to unsanitary habits such as not washing your hands after using the bathroom.
0コメント