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Parasite
Examples and
Symptoms:
The following are a few examples of parasites that
infest
humans, and
the symptoms
they cause.
This
information
was taken
from The
Department
of Health
and Human
Services
Centers for
Disease
Control and
Prevention
website.
Giardiasis
Giardiasis
(GEE-are-DYE-uh-sis)
is a
diarrheal
illness
caused by a
one-celled,
microscopic
parasite,
Giardia
intestinalis
(also known
as Giardia
lamblia) and
causes over
2 million
infections
yearly in
United
States. Once
an animal or
person has
been
infected
with Giardia
intestinalis,
the parasite
lives in the
intestine
and is
passed in
the stool.
Because the
parasite is
protected by
an outer
shell, it
can survive
outside the
body and in
the
environment
for long
periods of
time.
During the past 2 decades, Giardiainfection has
become
recognized
as one of
the most
common
causes of
waterborne
disease
(found in
both
drinking and
recreational
water) in
humans in
the United
States .
Giardia are
found
worldwide
and within
every region
of the
United
States.
How do
you get
giardiasis
and how is
it spread?
The Giardia parasite lives in the intestine of infected
humans or
animals.
Millions of
germs can be
released in
a bowel
movement
from an
infected
human or
animal.
Giardia is
found in
soil, food,
water, or
surfaces
that have
been
contaminated
with the
feces from
infected
humans or
animals.
You can
become
infected
after
accidentally
swallowing
the
parasite;
you cannot
become
infected
through
contact with
blood.
Giardia can
be spread
by:
1. Accidentally putting something into your mouth or
swallowing
something
that has
come into
contact with
feces of a
person or
animal
infected
with Giardia.
2. Swallowing recreational water contaminated with
Giardia.
Recreational
water
includes
water in
swimming
pools, hot
tubs,
jacuzzis,
fountains,
lakes,
rivers,
springs,
ponds, or
streams that
can be
contaminated
with sewage
or feces
from humans
or animals.
3. Eating uncooked food contaminated with Giardia.
4. Accidentally swallowing Giardia picked up from
surfaces
(such as
bathroom
fixtures,
changing
tables,
diaper
pails, or
toys)
contaminated
with feces
from an
infected
person.
What are
the symptoms
of
giardiasis?
Giardia
infection
can cause a
variety of
intestinal
symptoms,
which
include
1. Gas or flatulence
2. Diarrhea
3. Greasy stools that tend to float
4. Stomach cramps
5. Upset stomach or nausea.
These symptoms may lead to weight loss and dehydration.
Some people
with
giardiasis
have no
symptoms at
all.
Toxoplasma
gondii
Toxoplasma
gondii is a
singe cell
parasite
that causes
a disease
known as
toxoplasmosis.
While the
parasite is
found
throughout
the world,
more than
60 million
people in
the United
States may
be infected
with the
Toxoplasma
parasite.
Of those who
are
infected,
very few
have
symptoms
because a
healthy
person's
immune
system
usually
keeps the
parasite
from causing
illness.
However,
pregnant
women and
individuals
who have
compromised
immune
systems
should be
cautious;
for them, a
Toxoplasma
infection
could cause
serious
health
problems.
How do
people get
toxoplasmosis?
A Toxoplasma
infection
occurs by
1. Eating undercooked, contaminated meat
(especially
pork, lamb,
and
venison).
2. Accidental ingestion of undercooked, contaminated
meat after
handling it
an not
washing
hands
thoroughly (Toxoplasma
cannot be
absorbed
through
intact
skin).
3. Eating food that was contaminated by knives,
utensils,
cutting
boards and
other foods
that have
had contact
with raw,
contaminated
meat.
4. Drinking water contaminated with Toxoplasma
gondii.
5. Accidentally swallowing the parasite through contact
with cat
feces that
contain
Toxoplasma.
This might
happen by
cleaning a
cat's litter
box when the
cat has shed
Toxoplasma
in its feces
touching or
ingesting
anything
that has
come into
contact with
cat feces
that contain
Toxoplasma
accidentally
ingesting
contaminated
soil (e.g.,
not washing
hands after
gardening or
eating
unwashed
fruits or
vegetables
from a
garden)
6. Mother-to-child (congenital) transmission.
7. Receiving an infected organ transplant or infected
blood via
transfusion,
though this
is rare.
What are
the symptoms
of
toxoplasmosis?
Symptoms of
the
infection
vary. Most
people who
become
infected
with
Toxoplasma
gondii are
not aware of
it.
1. Some people who have toxoplasmosis may feel as if
they have
the "flu"
with swollen
lymph glands
or muscle
aches and
pains that
last for a
month or
more.
2. Severe toxoplasmosis, causing damage to the brain,
eyes, or
other
organs, can
develop from
an acute
Toxoplasma
infection or
one that had
occurred
earlier in
life and is
now
reactivated.
Severe cases
are more
likely in
individuals
who have
weak immune
systems,
though
occasionally,
even persons
with healthy
immune
systems may
experience
eye damage
from
toxoplasmosis.
3. Symptoms of ocular toxoplasmosis can include reduced
vision,
blurred
vision, pain
(often with
bright
light),
redness of
the eye, and
sometimes
tearing.
Ophthalmologists
sometimes
prescribe
medicine to
treat active
disease.
Whether or
not
medication
is
recommended
depends on
the size of
the eye
lesion, the
location,
and the
characteristics
of the
lesion
(acute
active,
versus
chronic not
progressing).
An
ophthalmologist
may provide
the best
care for
ocular
toxoplasmosis.
4. Most infants who are infected while still in the
womb have no
symptoms at
birth, but
they may
develop
symptoms
later in
life. A
small
percentage
of infected
newborns
have serious
eye or brain
damage at
birth.
Tapeworm
Tapeworm. The dwarf tapeworm or Hymenolepis nana
is the most
common
tapeworm
infection
diagnosed in
the in the
United
States and
throughout
the world.
Infection is
diagnosed in
children, in
persons
living in
institutional
settings,
and in
people who
live in
areas where
sanitation
and personal
hygiene is
inadequate.
How did I
get
infected?
1. One can get infected by accidentally ingesting
tapeworm
eggs. This
can happen
by ingesting
fecally
contaminated
foods and
water, by
touching
your mouth
with
contaminated
fingers, or
by ingesting
contaminated
soil.
Adult
tapeworms
are very
small in
comparison
with other
tapeworms
and may
reach 15-40
mm (up to 2
inches) in
length. The
adult
tapeworm is
made up of
many small
segments,
called
proglottids
(pro-GLOT-ids).
As the
tapeworm
matures
inside the
intestines,
these
segments
break off
and pass
into the
stool. An
adult
tapeworm can
live for 4-6
weeks.
However,
once you are
infected,
the dwarf
tapeworm may
cause auto
infection
(the
tapeworm may
reproduce
inside the
body) and
continue the
infection.
What are
the symptoms
of a
tapeworm
infection?
Most people who are infected do not have any
symptoms.
Those who
have
symptoms may
experience
nausea,
weakness,
loss of
appetite,
diarrhea,
and
abdominal
pain. Young
children,
especially
those with a
heavy
infection,
may develop
a headache,
itchy
bottom, or
have
difficulty
sleeping.
Sometimes
infection is
misdiagnosed
as a pinworm
infection.
Contrary to popular belief, a tapeworm infection does
not
generally
cause weight
loss. You
cannot feel
the tapeworm
inside your
body.
Roundworm
Roundworm.
Baylisascaris,
an
intestinal
raccoon
roundworm,
can infect a
variety of
other
animals,
including
humans. The
worms
develop to
maturity in
the raccoon
intestine,
where they
produce
millions of
eggs that
are passed
in the
feces.
Released
eggs take
2-4 weeks to
become
infective to
other
animals and
humans. The
eggs are
resistant to
most
environmental
conditions
and with
adequate
moisture,
can survive
for years.
How do
humans
become
infected?
People become infected when they accidentally ingest
infective
eggs in
soil, water,
or on
objects that
have been
contaminated
with raccoon
feces. When
humans
ingest these
eggs, they
hatch into
larvae in
the person's
intestine
and travel
throughout
the body,
affecting
the organs
and muscles.
Who is at
risk for
infection?
Anyone who is exposed to environments where
raccoons
live is
potentially
at risk.
Young
children or
developmentally
disabled
persons are
at highest
risk for
infection
when they
spend time
outdoors and
may put
contaminated
fingers,
soil, or
objects into
their
mouths.
Hunters,
trappers,
taxidermists,
and wildlife
handlers may
also be at
increased
risk if they
have contact
with
raccoons or
raccoon
habitats.
How
common is
Baylisascaris
infection in
raccoons?
Fairly common. Infected raccoons have been found
throughout
the United
States,
mainly in
the Midwest,
Northeast,
middle
Atlantic,
and West
coast.
Infection
rarely
causes
symptoms in
raccoons.
Predator
animals,
including
dogs, may
also become
infected by
eating a
smaller
animal that
has been
infected
with
Baylisascaris.
How
common is
Baylisascaris
infection in
humans?
Infection is rarely diagnosed. Fever than 25 cases
have been
diagnosed
and reported
in the
United
States as of
2003.
However, it
is believed
that cases
are
mistakenly
diagnosed as
other
infections
or go
undiagnosed.
Cases have
been
reported in
Oregon,
California,
Minnesota,
Illinois,
Michigan,
New York,
and
Pennsylvania.
Five of the
infected
persons
died.
What are
the symptoms
of
Baylisascaris
infection in
humans?
Symptoms of
infection
depend on
how many
eggs are
ingested and
where in the
body the
larvae
migrate
(travel to).
Once inside
the body,
eggs hatch
into larvae
and cause
disease when
they travel
through the
liver,
brain,
spinal cord,
or other
organs.
Ingesting a
few eggs may
cause few or
no symptoms,
while
ingesting
large
numbers of
eggs may
lead to
serious
symptoms.
Symptoms of
infection
may take a
week or so
to develop.
Symptoms
include:
1. Nausea
2. Tiredness
3. Liver enlargement
4. Loss of coordination
5. Lack of attention to people and surroundings
6. Loss of muscle control
7. Coma
8. Blindness
Other animals (except raccoons) infected with
Baylisascaris
can develop
similar
symptoms, or
may die as a
result of
infection. |
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