Parasite Information
The Aliens have landed!
According to Hanna Kroeger, a pioneer in the area of parasitic infections, “A parasite is an organism that derives its food, nutrition and shelter by living in or on another organism.” The medical dictionary describes it as this; “A plant or animal that lives upon or within another living organism at whose expense it obtains its nourishment.” The term “parasite” came from the Greek “parasitos” (para-, along side of + sitos, food) meaning “eating at the side of, as at the same table.” The sense of the term later changed to that of a poor friend or relative who lived at the expense of another. Not until the 18th century did “parasite” come into English as a biological term.
The study of parasites is parasitology. Parasites are a common way of life for humans and animals. Humans may host up to 100 different types of parasites. While you might expect to find this in undeveloped countries, an estimated 70% of the population of North America is infested with these creatures. We have more people traveling in and out of the country than ever before. Chances are, one of these hidden invaders has also hitched a ride!
When you think of parasites, you probably think of worms, like earthworms, but more rounded in shape. These worms can be as thin as our hair (threadworms, filarial) and can be microscopic in size like (Trichinella). Other worms like flatworms are more like leeches; they attach themselves with the head (scolex) like tapeworms do, where flukes have a special sucker type attachment.
Common Parasites that infest Humans
ROUNDWORMS (ASCARIS LUMBRICOIDES)
When we talk about 70% of the population being infested in the US, well this is the particular worm we are discussing. It can be found around the world, but in the US mainly around warmer climates especially in the southeastern US. Poor sanitation can be a reason to have more but especially in contaminated soil or on fruits and vegetables which are grown in infected soil. Children are more common to have them than adults. These worms can live several years in the human body. A female can release 200,000 eggs a day and once ingested they make their way into the digestive tract and then into the blood and lymph. Literally any organ can be infested with them, especially the liver. They can be the size of a pencil. The lungs are a key place to get them; they can migrate into the eyes, brain and ears causing damage here. Their waste products are what make us so sick; they also release a foreign protein which gives us the allergic reaction that so many of us have.
The following are a few symptoms of a roundworm infestation:
- Grinding of teeth at night
- Intestinal gas
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Snoring
- Anemia
- Restlessness
- Weight gain (especially around the full moon)
- Hormone imbalances
HOOKWORMS (NECATOR AMERICANUS)
These particular worms are found with cases where there is blood loss and malnutrition. If you have anemia there is a good chance you have hookworms! They require large amounts of blood while in the intestine. First they are in the contaminated soil and make their way through your skin into your blood stream and then into the lungs. Then being swallowed they end up in the intestines where they dine on your blood. When they burrow into your skin you will have itching skin and blisters. One worm can lay 30,000 eggs a day. This is the only worm with TEETH!
Symptoms of a hookworm infestation include the following:
- Anemia
- Low or no energy
- Mentally slow
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Indigestion
- Diarrhea
TAPEWORMS
The tapeworm is the oldest known parasite in the world. It can be from 6 inches long to 26 feet long. In some extreme cases, Fish tapeworms have been known to grow as long as 100 feet. These parasites are long, flat, and ribbon-like in appearance. They attach to your intestinal wall and feed off of your nutrients; here they absorb food through their body and release eggs which can travel to any part of your body and develop a cyst. Now, for the best part; almost every restaurant you eat at has beef tapeworms on the counters. Also, many of us will never know that we have an infestation. The symptoms can be very mild and go undetected. Your first line of defense is your stomach! Keeping your stomach acidic destroys most of these invaders before they completely infiltrate your body and cause serious problems.
The following are different types of known tapeworms:
- Beef Tapeworm (most common in restaurants)
- Bladder worm
- Pork Tapeworm
- Broad Fish Tapeworm
- Dog Tapeworm
- Dwarf Tapeworm
- Rat Tapeworm
Some signs of a tapeworm infection:
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Muscle weakness
- Loss of Appetite
- Abdominal Pain
- Malnutrition
- Neurological Damage
- Seizures
- Bloating (on a full moon)
FLUKES
Human flukes are parasites that have two ventral suckers they use to attach themselves to their hosts. They are called trematodes and are known in every corner of the world. You can infect yourself by eating infected raw or undercooked freshwater fish or watercress. The intermediate host of a fluke is a snail. So, you might want to hold off also in consuming snails (escargot) unless they are cooked really well.
If you are a sushi lover, there are precautions you can take. Make sure you consume a piece of an orange after eating sushi. The citric acid will help to kill any eggs. Wasabi will help with this as well. Most sushi is safe and the freezing methods used are quite effective. Tuna is frozen simply because of FDA laws, but really doesn’t require freezing since they are fast-moving predators. They are some of the most parasite-free sushi you can eat. Saltwater fish are the safest when it comes to parasites. Freshwater fish have more potential for infection, so be more cautious when eating them. The freezing methods set by the FDA for sushi are -4 F for 7 days or -31 F for 15 hours. Some companies use carbon monoxide on tuna, but it is banned in Japan. Ask your restaurant.
The following are different types of Flukes:
- Liver Flukes
- Lung Flukes
- Blood Flukes
Liver flukes travel from the intestines into the bile ducts of the liver, where they will live until they mature. Like many parasites, you don’t know they are there. Immature flukes will burrow into your liver and you may notice upper abdominal pain. Later in the infestation, they will cause obstruction of your biliary system (gallbladder/liver).
Some signs of a liver fluke infestation:
- Upper abdominal pain
- Fever (sometimes as high as 104 F)
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Hives (allergies become worse)
- Whole body weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Weight Loss
Lung flukes are ingested when eating crabs or crawfish, and the symptoms are much like liver flukes. The main difference with the symptoms is whether you have a chronic lung condition. If you have a chronic lung condition that is inflammatory and does not seem to go away, there is a good chance you have lung flukes.
Blood flukes (Schoistosma) are consumed in the same fashion as other flukes. You also can be infested while swimming, if the eggs have been in a snail and are then released into your swimming area. The larval form of these parasites that are now swimming around are called cercariae. They attach themselves to your skin while swimming. After they penetrate your skin, they go through different stages and end up circulating through your blood system. They usually also end up in the liver, but will migrate down to the large intestine and the rectum to lay their eggs. These flukes know how to survive!
Here are some initial signs of a Blood fluke infestation:
- Itchy rash on your legs
- Fever
- Chills
- Muscle aches and pains
- Swollen lymph glands
- Headaches
If symptoms worsen over time you might experience:
- Difficulty breathing
- Coughing
- Leg swelling
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Loss of appetite
- Pelvic pain in woman
- Irregular menstrual periods
PROTOZOA
These microscopic single-celled animals are the largest classification of parasites. They are found everywhere in our environment and more people are killed or harmed by these guys than any of the parasites mentioned. The cysts that they develop are how we get infected, these hard shells are what protect them from many factors like temperature and chemicals from being destroyed. The oral-fecal route is the most common way they reach our bodies, including in unsanitary conditions (mental hospitals, daycare centers, etc) and even when people prepare our food.
What keeps most of us from being affected is our immune system. If you have a suppressed immune system, toxic body, or you are under constant stress then you are open to receive an infection from these parasites.
Dr. Bingham, M.D., author of “Fight Back Against Arthritis,” mentioned that cancer patients and rheumatoid diseases all contain the presence of these protozoa in their bodies. Healthy people have antibodies in their blood to protect them from these invaders. He said they may migrate from the digestive tract into the blood and joints of other body tissues. Their toxic waste products include: acetate, ammonia, fatty acids, lactate, pyruvate, and carbon dioxide.
Dr. Bingham mentions other diseases that may be associated with the protozoan infections:
Arthritis, Asthma, Colitis, Degenerative muscle diseases, Dermatitis, Diabetes, Elevated white blood cell count, Hodgkin’s Disease, Leukemia, Lymphoma, Multiple Sclerosis, Ovarian cysts, Psoriasis, Pyorrhea, etc. Any blockage in this process can be the first sign of a disease. (Colon Cleansing Kit)
How Parasites can affect humans
Here are a few misdiagnosed conditions that appear to be digestive issues:
- Gallstones (Pain behind your right shoulder & abdomen pain)
- Pancreatitis (Pain in the middle of your back and lower abdomen)
- Lactose Intolerance (Bloating & gas)
- Diverticulitis (Gas, bloating, and pain in the colon)
- Gluten Intolerance (Pain, inflammation – Glyphosate poisoning)
- Endometriosis (Constipation, diarrhea, painful bowel movements)
- Thyroid Conditions (Low thyroid = constipation)
- Appendicitis (Pain & inflammation, can feel like constipation)
- Ulcers (Constant bad foods can cause bleeding in the colon)
- Stress (Overproduction of your Adrenal hormones = bad digestion)
- Irritable Bowel Disease (Severe colon issues; bloating, the pain usually from overuse of medications like antibiotics and steroids)
Parasite Overview
Here is an overview to help you keep track of Parasites.
Parasite Glossary
Roundworm: Its mouth consists of three, independent lips, each equipped with small piercing projections.
Hookworm: Hookworms attach themselves to the intestinal wall using buccal capsule teeth. At maturity a Hookworm may lay more than 30,000 eggs a day.
Tapeworm: Tapeworms are a type of flatworm that can colonize animal and human digestive tracts.
Heartworm: The adult worms are large, measuring up to 10 inches long, and they typically live in the right heart and pulmonary artery.
Roundworm: Its mouth consists of three, independent lips, each equipped with small piercing projections.
Protozoa: Perhaps the most common parasite.
Amoeba: Several species are commonly found in man.
Giardia: Swimmers are very susceptible to Giardia.
Toxoplasmosis: Affects 35% of the U.S. public.
Symptoms of a Parasitic infection
- Passing gas often (This is probably the #1 symptom)
- Bloating and filling full (You are not full, you are bloated!)
- Feeling nauseated
- Low Immune system (Chronic illness)
- Hard to pass stools
- Fatigue
- Constant belching
- Weight Gain
- Any unexplained medical condition (Ex: Auto-immune)
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