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Common human parasites can affect you in different ways. Parasites vary widely in their characteristics. There are many types of parasites and symptoms can vary widely. Sometimes, some of the symptoms may resemble other conditions such as food poisoning or pneumonia.
Let Us Tell You Why Parasites Are Harmful
Parasites live off with the other organisms, or hosts, to survive. Some parasites do not affect their hosts in any noticeable way. The growth, reproduction, or invasion of parasitic organisms causes their hosts to become sick, resulting in parasitic infection.
- Parasitic infections can be caused by three types of organisms:
- Protozoa
- Helminths
- Ectoparasites
Anyone can get a parasitic infection. You’re more likely to contract a parasitic infection if you:
- Swim in lakes, rivers, or ponds where giardia or other parasites are common
- Lack of a clean supply of drinking water
- Have a compromised immune system or are already sick with another illness
- Live or travel in tropical or subtropical regions of the world
- Work with soil regularly or work in other contexts where you come into contact with feces consistently
Common symptoms of this infection may include:
- Fatigue or weakness
- Gas
- Bloating
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Passing a worm in your stool
- Stomach pain or tenderness
- Weight loss
Most Common Human Parasites
Some parasitic worms cling to humans for a short stay, while others stick around for years. This can result in the host’s malnutrition or cause them to get sick for a long time. As the worm holds on tighter, the harder it is to expel them out of the body. Different types of parasitic worms bring different effects.
Below are the most common types of parasitic worms that infect humans:
- Pinworms (Enterobius vermicularis)
- Tapeworms (Taenia solium)
- Roundworms (Ascaris lumbricoides)
- Roundworms (Wuchereria bancrofti)
- Roundworms (Trichinella)
- Flatworms (Fasciola hepatica)
- Whipworm (Trichuris trichiura)
- Hookworms Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale)
Common Treatment for Parasitic Infections
There are several ways how you can manage parasitic infection. You can treat it with medication and ways to prevent the infection.
To prevent the infection, regularly wash your hands with soap and hot water before and after using the toilet and before preparing or eating food.
You should also practice food safety:
- Wash, peel, or cook all raw fruits and vegetables
- Wash or reheat any food that falls on the floor
- Let cooked meat rest for 3 minutes before carving or consuming
- Avoid raw fish and meat
- Thoroughly cook meat to temperatures of at least 145°f for whole cuts of meat and 160°f for ground meat and poultry
- Freeze fish or meat to –4°f for at least 24 hours
Your treatment plan will be determined based on the type of intestinal worm you have and your symptoms.
Parasitic infections are usually treated with oral medication, such as Albendazole which is an anthelmintic drug that works by blocking the glucose intake of a specific worm in the body. It also stops the production of newly hatched larvae from growing. It ends the invasion of the other areas of your digestive system.
