Intestinal Parasites
Intestinal
parasites are parasitic organisms that populate the gastro-intestinal tract in
a human being or another animal. A parasite can reside anywhere throughout the
entire body, but a parasite will likely prefer the intestinal wall due to its
ability to stick to it. Some of the means of exposure to a parasite include
consuming undercooked meat, drinking infected, bad water, and skin absorption.
There are two main types of intestinal parasites which can gravely endanger a
body of a human. They two primary kinds of this certain parasite are helminths
and protozoa. Worms that consist of many cells are considered to be helminths.
The common types of helminth parasite in the United States are tapeworms,
pinworms, and roundworms. In their adult, matured form, these specific
intestinal parasites are unable to multiply in the human body. On the other
hand, protozoa have one, single cell and have the capabilities to multiply
inside the human body. These intestinal parasites allow serious infections to
form. These parasitic organisms are commonly transmitted and contracted when
someone comes in contact with feces that has been infected. For example, any
contact with contaminated soil, food or water is likely to spread these
intestinal parasites. In the United States, the most frequently seen protozoa
are giardia and cryptosporidium. It is frightening to think that a parasitic
organism can reside in the intestines for many years without causing a single
symptom. Hopefully these intestinal parasites do cause a symptom so that the
host would be able to protect themselves immediately. Some of the signs and
symptoms that arise when infected are abdominal pain, diarrhea, throwing up,
gas or bloating, stools that contain blood or mucus, rash, stomach pain,
tiredness, weight loss, and passing a worm in the stool which is quite obvious.
There
are also certain factors and things that cause intestinal parasites to easily
enter the body. Some of the things that raises the risk for a human to get
infected are residing or visiting an area known to have parasites,
international traveling, bad sanitation system for food and water, poor
hygiene, age because children and the elderly have a higher probability of
getting infected, exposure to child and institutional care centers, weak immune
system and having HIV or AIDS. There are also anti-parasitic drugs that can be
taken which are usually efficient. Obviously, when speaking with a professional
about these parasites if a certain anti-parasitic prescription and treatment
regime is given, following it would be the best advice. Intestinal parasites
are normally completely and successfully treated, but there is a chance that it
may reoccur if the source of infection still remains.
The
stool of a person with intestinal parasites is contagious as long as however
long the actual infection lasts. Some infections with certain parasites last
for years after the symptoms have ceased to appear. The stool of a person
without any symptoms is also contagious. Some parasites also cause low red
blood count or also known as anemia. Unfortunately, some intestinal parasites
can travel from the lungs to the intestines or from the intestines to any other
part of the body. They are free to roam around as much as they want, so making
sure you or another person infected is free from that as soon as possible is
great idea.
