Do you have a strong stomach? When you start reading this article, you might feel a little less confident about its ironclad reputation. But it's important to know the symptoms of parasitic diseases, especially for people traveling in countries where parasitic diseases are more common and medical help is less accessible; self-diagnosis can be an invaluable asset. We also have to remember that “parasitism” doesn’t just refer to tapeworms (although that’s exactly what it means); It is also a descriptor for diseases such as malaria and waterborne parasitic diseases such as giardiasis.
The United States is extremely lucky; parasitic diseases here are rarely fatal and are easily treated. In other parts of the world, things are different. According to the World Health Organization, infectious and parasitic diseases are the second leading cause of death in the world's population, after cardiovascular disease. In low-income countries, they are often the largest cause of death, especially among children. However, if you haven't been anywhere recently, don't automatically assume that parasites are the cause of your illness. As we will discover, some of the most common parasitic diseases can be found in the water and soil of the United States. What a blessing for us.
So, let’s take a look at five possible signs that you have parasites, from plausible scenarios to combinations of symptoms. Warning: This is not for the squeamish.
1. Feeling weird after visiting a subtropical country
Diagnosing many parasites is done on a case-by-case basis, because often the symptoms are not that different from a normal upset stomach or the flu. For example, you are more likely to have parasites if you have recently come from a part of the world where parasites are common. If you're trying to avoid a minor heart attack before your next vacation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a handy list of specific parasites that are most common in the world, starting with the most common (Giardia and malaria) to the least common (African sleeping sickness).
Most parasites, including intestinal parasites, are common in subtropical countries, including parts of Africa, Asia, and South America. If you go to the hospital for a diagnosis, don't be surprised if your doctor asks for a summary of your recent travel; if you've never spent time outside of New York, they might be a little concerned that you've contracted something particularly unfamiliar.
2. You have been exposed to unclean water or food
Some of the most common parasites in the world, from giardiasis to amebiasis, are waterborne diseases, meaning you most commonly become infected by ingesting unclean water, eating food washed in it, or being exposed to improper water. Infected by swimming in unsanitary rivers or water bodies. If you start experiencing symptoms after coming into contact with a water source whose safety rating is less clear, parasites may be the cause.
However, to make things slightly more complicated, the disease you contract from contaminated water or food is not necessarily a parasite. Contaminated water can cause a variety of illnesses, from common gastroenteritis (known as "Delhi belly" in India) to hepatitis E and dysentery. Therefore, it is not automatically certain that parasites are the cause of your discomfort after a dangerous meal or drink. Independent Traveler recommends that you avoid cold meats, seafood, any fruits or vegetables that cannot be peeled and eaten with your hands if they have been washed in local water known to be problematic, raw eggs, and any condiments that are not peeled . Not in sealed packaging.
3. You have stomach cramps and dehydration
This is a specific characteristic of a specific parasite: cryptosporidiosis, an excruciating disease. (Usefully, it's often abbreviated to "crypto"). Cryptosporidiosis is one of the water-borne diseases and is highly contagious. It is a protozoan parasite, a single-celled organism that relies on its host to reproduce. Once ingested, this parasite lives in the human intestine and its main symptom is watery diarrhea, but it is also associated with severe stomach cramps and dehydration, as your body struggles to retain enough fluid to function. .
It's also unique in that it's cyclical: It may last one or two weeks, during which it seems to get better, and then gets worse again. Because it's spread through feces that gets into water or food, getting a diagnosis can be a bit unpleasant; you may need to provide a stool sample for a doctor to examine.
4. You have persistent diarrhea
Ah, giardiasis: one of the most unpleasant and common parasitic diseases. The situation isn't limited to other countries: The Mayo Clinic specifically warns the United States against using "remote area streams and lakes... municipal water supplies, swimming pools, whirlpool spas, and wells." It's caused by a tiny parasite called Giardia that stays happy in your or an animal's small intestine, where it passes through dehydration, fatigue, severe stomach upset, bloating, nausea, and often a small fever to cause serious damage. It's not pleasant, but it's easily killed with antibiotics, which is a small mercy.
Be prepared to know this: Giardiasis is different from other parasitic diseases in that your diarrhea may be "greasy" rather than purely watery. This is also a stool sample diagnosis, unfortunately for your dignity.
5. A small, itchy rash and feeling tired
This is another type of parasite: a worm, or multicellular organism, that can live independently or inside a host. Worms include tapeworms and flatworms, but roundworms are the most common and are often the cause of this combination of symptoms. (No, tapeworms have never been used as a weight loss aid; this is a myth and you should not try to get tapeworms. If you do get tapeworms, any weight loss will be caused by severe nausea and diarrhea and intestinal inflammation. Not worth it . ) Roundworms are usually spread through skin-to-skin contact with contaminated soil, and infection is especially common when people walk barefoot in infected areas.
Roundworms can appear in a variety of ways, including having virtually no symptoms, but the most common is a tiny, itchy rash on the part of the body where the roundworm larvae first "enter" (probably on your feet). It can be accompanied by severe fatigue, and unlike tapeworms, you usually can't see any evidence in the stool with the naked eye; a doctor will need to examine it under a microscope to make a correct diagnosis. It's easy to get rid of, so don't worry too much.
bottom line
Parasites tend to play the long game: There's often a period of time between infection and the onset of symptoms (perhaps as little as two days, but some parasites can linger in the system for years before showing symptoms), which can make your condition a bit more difficult. track. If your symptoms are mild, you may need to wait a few days before panicking; for example, with giardiasis, it is recommended that you see your GP if symptoms persist for a week.
If you suspect you have a parasite infection, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor and bring your travel history to see where you might have contracted the parasite. Depending on the severity and type of parasite, you may recover without treatment, but do see your GP as they can perform diagnostic tests that you cannot do at home and can provide medications that can relieve symptoms. In addition to conventional medicine, your medical provider may recommend that you pursue a specific diet low in carbohydrates, high in fiber and digestive enzymes, which may help restore gut health, explains the University of Maryland.
Image: Pixabay; Jiffy
