Symptoms of Intestinal Parasites

So as I was saying, there are primarily two categorizations of human intestinal parasites, viz., helminths and protozoa. The former ones are intestinal worms of multiple cells, and of size ranging from a few millimeters to several meters. Common examples of helminths are tapeworms, pinworms and roundworms.

And such parasites are generally visible to the naked eye when they are in their adult stage. After having reached their adulthood, helminths cease to multiply inside the body.

Coming to the protozoa, these are single-celled organisms, which have the ability to multiply inside the human body, and cause serious infections; giardia and cryptosporidium are the most common ones.

Intestinal parasites in humans may remain dormant for several years, and they may not come up with any symptoms as such. However, once they are triggered, the symptoms may be severe.

Tapeworm Infection
This infection spreads through food or water that is contaminated with feces or soil that has tapeworm eggs. It can also spread from the meat of an infected animal. Usually, this intestinal infection triggers no symptoms.

But in some cases, when it does, the symptoms may include:

• Tiredness
• Weakness
• Nausea/vomiting
• Poor appetite (an important symptom)
• Pain in the abdominal region
• Diarrhea
• Disturbed sleep
• Abnormal weight loss; occurs because the parasite feeds on most of the nutrients from the food

Pinworm Infection
Also known as threadworms, these parasites infect the large intestine of humans. School-going kids are commonly affected by this infection. It usually spreads when people come in contact with food or water contaminated with pinworm eggs. When an adult female lays eggs in the anal area, it causes itching. 

So when the affected person relieves the itch by scratching, the eggs get transferred to his/her fingers, which if not washed properly, may contaminate several places or objects in the house. Often, this parasitic infection goes unnoticed, because it does not cause any symptoms in some people.

However, the symptoms that do occur may include:

• Disturbed sleep
• Anal itching
• In girls, the itching may spread to the vaginal region
• Pain in the abdomen

If symptoms such as poor appetite, and abnormal weight loss occur, then it may indicate a severe infection. In some cases, severe itching may lead to secondary bacterial infections due to constant scratching.

This infection, also known as ascariasis, mostly affects the small intestine. Young children are more susceptible to contract the disease, and it spreads from soil that is contaminated by feces containing roundworm eggs. It, however, does not spread from person-to-person. Since most cases of the infection is mild, symptoms get ignored.

However, a mild or heavy infestation does give rise to severe symptoms. There are two stages where symptoms occur. In the first stage, the eggs hatch in the small intestine, and the larvae move up to the lungs.

This triggers symptoms such as:

• Wheezing
• Trouble breathing
• Fever (higher than 38 degree Celsius)
• Dry cough
• Chronic cough

The larvae mature in the lungs, and then make their way back to the intestine to reproduce. At this stage, the symptoms that may occur include:

• Loose or watery stools (may contain blood)
• Pain in the abdomen
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Weight loss, severe stomach pain, tiredness, and presence of worms in the stool indicate heavy infestation

Giardiasis
It refers to an infection caused by the microscopic parasites called Giardia intestinalis. The infection is transmitted through person-to-person contact, or ingesting contaminated food or water. Symptoms of this parasitic infection may have a sudden onset, or may show up with a gradual pace.

• Stool may be loose and watery, accompanied by foul odor
• Bloating; may be worsened by abdominal cramps
• Burping; leaves a bad taste in the mouth
• Temperature between 37 and 38 degree Celsius
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Poor appetite

Cryptosporidiosis
Caused by the protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium, this infection affects the small intestine. It is spread when someone comes in contact with objects that has been contaminated by feces containing the cells of the parasite. Symptoms that occur may include:

• Diarrhea
• Stomach cramps
• Upset stomach
• Low grade fever

• Unintentional weight loss
• Nausea which may or may not be accompanied by vomiting

These symptoms may occur in unpredictable instances, while in some people, they may not appear at all.

# Depending on the type of parasite that has caused the infection, the treatment usually comprise anti-parasitic drugs such as:

• Mebendazole (Vermox)
• Thiabendazole (Mintezol)
• Metronidazole (Flagyl)
• Nitazoxanide (Alinia)

# Whilst the treatment, one must refrain from taking simple carbohydrate sources such as refined foods, fruits, juices, dairy products and all sugars.

Foods such as garlic, pumpkin seeds, pomegranates, beets and carrots possess anti-worm properties, and so are beneficial for the treatment. Include high fiber fruits and vegetables, and drink plenty of water to improve bowel movements.

# Herbal products such as those of barberry, Oregon grape, tea tree oil, wormwood, curled mint, and black walnuts also help in managing the symptoms of intestinal parasitic infections. However, before administering such products, it is wise to consult your health care provider.

One of the simplest preventive measures for avoiding all such infections is, good hygiene, such as washing hands thoroughly with soap (preferably anti-bacterial) before meals, and unfailingly, after bowel movements. Raw vegetables and fruits must be washed thoroughly before consuming. Properly cooked foods have minimal or no risk of entertaining the growth or infestation of parasites, so cook your food well. In short, stay clean, eat healthy and take care!