But, while having a parasite can be scary, there are proven ways to treat most forms.
Heres everything you better know.
What are parasites?
That doesnt mean others are immune, though, she says.
Just a single organism can multiple in your body and cause serious infection.
Protozoa can live in your intestine, blood, tissue, or other areas of your body.
More common protozoan infections includeGiardia, Plasmodium, andCryptosporidium.
These arelarge, multicellular organisms1that you’ve got the option to actually see in their adult stages.
Once they reach adulthood, they cant multiply in your body.
Tapeworms, thorny-headed worms, and roundworms are all helminths.
Ectoparasites
Ectoparasites are organisms thatfeed off your blood1.
They typically attach or burrow into the skin and stay there for weeks to months.
Ticks, fleas, lice, and mites are ectoparasites.
How do you get parasites?
And there are many other ways of contracting a parasite.
Once a parasite gets into your body, it can manifest in a number of different ways.
Waterydiarrhea, bloody diarrhea, bloating, gas, andconstipationcan all be symptoms of parasites, he says.
That can then produce allergic reactions in your body, including skin problems, Romero says.
It can affect the muscle because its actually in there, he explains.
Trichinosis, which is resulting from a throw in of roundworm, is one of them.
you’ve got the option to get trichinosis byeating undercooked meat9.
Anemia
Certain infections brought on by hookworms and whipworms can cause blood loss, leading toiron-deficiency anemia3.
The worms actuallyfeed on your blood, causing the anemia, Adalja says.
Tapeworms, for example, hatch in the stomach andfeed on what you eat10, Romero says.
(With pinworms, youll likely feel itching around your anus, he says.)
Cough
Some intestinal parasites like the wormAscariscan move through your body, Romero says.
That includesrelocating to your chest11, where it can cause a cough.
Bloating
An intestinal parasite can cause extra gas tobuild up12in your GI tract, leading to bloating.
The parasitegiardiacan cause this, along with a distended stomach.
People infected with the parasitic wormAscaris, for example,usually have no symptoms11.
(You will likely need to give at least three different stool samples, taken on different days.)
Your doctor will then send the samples to a lab for testing.
Acolonoscopyis similar, but the tube is inserted into your rectum.
These tests look for the presence of a parasite in your GI tract.
Blood test
Some parasites can be detected through ablood testthat looks for a specific infection.
It may also be helpful to eat dried papaya seeds and honey.
Probioticscan also be used to help boost your digestive tract, Romero says.
Ultimately, every parasitic infection is slightly different, and each can cause a variety of symptoms.
And, of course, if you suspect you may have a parasitic infection, call your doctor.
