A parasitic infection can be a serious, even life-threatening issue. A parasite is any organism that lives on or in another organism, feeding off its host to sustain itself. Parasites can sap energy and nutrients from the host, leaving behind waste products that are toxic, and sometimes deadly. Parasite symptoms, particularly for intestinal parasites, are broad and sometimes difficult to assess.
A few of the more common parasites are:
Roundworms, Pinworms, and Whipworms
Roundworms live in soil. However, if human hands come in contact with them they can cling to skin and be subsequently transferred to the mouth. Once there, they can make their way to the gut. There are around half a million species of roundworm, about sixty of which are parasitic for humans. The path of infection into humans is often uncleaned vegetables.
Pinworms are a form of roundworm, but extremely small — about the length of a staple. They typically live in the colon or rectum.
Whipworms are another form of roundworm. As with most worms, whipworms get their name from their shape: thick at one end, thinning toward the other.
Tapeworms are thin, often called flatworms. For humans, eating undercooked meat may lead to a tapeworm infection. Tapeworm symptoms can be minor, permitting them to live in the gut undetected and causing few issues.
However, they can also become life-threatening. Tapeworms can grow quite large in the gut. The largest ever was 37 feet long, removed from a patient via her mouth in 1991.
Hookworms look exactly like their name: small hooks. They can enter the body through the skin, so walking barefoot in regions with poor sanitation is enough to bring on an infection. Contact with animal feces can also result in infection. Over 400 million people suffer from hookworm infections globally.
Of course, not all parasites are worms. Giardia lamblia is a microscopic parasite that infects the gut. A Giardia infection is called giardiasis, though its symptoms are not unique, manifesting as those of other parasitic infections. The risks of giardia are not isolated to any one region.
What Are Some Parasite Symptoms?
Humans are susceptible to a broad range of parasites, and this means the symptoms can be broad also. If you have had any contact with undercooked food or unsanitary conditions, that coupled with these symptoms may indicate parasitic diseases.
- Gas, constipation, or diarrhea
- Changes in your digestion after food poisoning
- Abdominal pain
- Inability to sleep
- Loss of weight
- Hives, rashes, or eczema
- Aching joints and muscles
- Eating leaves you feeling unsatisfied – Loss of appetite can also occur
There are medical diagnoses that can indicate a parasitic infection also, such as anemia (iron deficiency). While anemia has other causes aside from an infection, this diagnosis coupled with any or all of the symptoms above may be a strong indicator of a parasite.
The most common medical test to determine whether one of the parasites mentioned here is the cause is through a stool sample.
Most parasites enter the human body through undercooked or raw foods. The simplest way to avoid them is, of course, to ensure that food is properly cooked. Most treatments are relatively benign, and an untreated parasitic infection can be serious, sometimes leading to brain damage. Parasites can even cause death.
If you have parasite symptoms and suspect you’ve encountered a parasite, speak to your medical practitioner. In Hong Kong, call our office at (+852) 2523 8044 to make an appointment at our easy-to-reach HK Central medical practice.