Human Parasite Information
Human parasites are organisms that live in or on your body and feed off of you. There are three main types of parasites, and they are transmitted in several ways. Human parasites are common, and there are treatments readily available, although some can cause serious infections that take a long time to treat.
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Protozoa
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Protozoa are one-celled parasites that may be transmitted through direct contact with feces or through food or water that has been contaminated. They may also be contracted from the bite of a mosquito (malaria) or a sand fly. There are four types of protozoa that infect humans. They include sarcodina (entamoeba), mastigophora (giardia, leishmania), ciliophora (balantidium) and sporozoa (plasmodium and cryptosporidium). These parasites cause inflammation in your intestines and result in diarrhea, abdominal cramping and sometimes blood in your stool.
Helminths
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Helminths are visible to your naked eye when they are in their adult form. They include flatworms (tapeworms), thorny-headed worms and roundworms. They are transmitted by fecal contact and by undercooked or infected meat (such as pork) or fish. You also can contract them by walking barefoot or swimming in areas that are infected. They all thrive in your gastrointestinal tract and cause symptoms of diarrhea, bloating, flatulence, fatigue and malnutrition.
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Ectoparasites
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Ectoparasites are those that live on your skin or burrow into your skin, such as fleas, ticks, lice and mites that include scabies and chiggers. They typically are transmitted by contact with an infected person or animal. Most cause severe itching and rash, and some can spread diseases. Ticks, for example, can cause Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and babesiosis. These diseases have flu-like symptoms.
Diagnosis
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Diagnosis of human parasites is made by the physical examination, symptoms, blood tests and fecal tests. In some instances, your doctor may request a CT scan or biopsy if there is a possibility that other organs, such as your lungs or liver, have been infected. You should inform your doctor if you have recently traveled to locations where hygiene standards are poor.
Treatment
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Treat of intestinal parasites can include antibiotics such as metronidazole, quinacrine or tinidazole. It also may include antiworm medications such as albendazole, mebendazole, ivermectin, praziquante or diethylcarbamazine. For ectoparasites, topical medications may be used such as lindane for scabies or malathion lotion for lice. Over-the-counter medications also are available for lice, such as Pronto, Nix and Rid. For diseases that are caused by parasites, such as those caused by ticks, long-term antibiotics often are necessary.
Prevention
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Prevention measures to avoid parasite infections include good hand washing habits (using antibacterial soap) after toileting and before meals, proper cooking to destroy parasites in food, washing all fruits and vegetables and consuming only bottled beverages and cooked or packaged food when traveling to countries such as Africa, South Asia and Central or South America.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Microsoft Clip Art
