The Prevalence Of Parasites
Billions of people all over the world harbour parasites without knowing it – do you? Just a split second of bad luck can infect you – through contaminated food, drinks, unwashed hands, pets etc. Perhaps you’ve travelled abroad, are fond of exotic dishes, do you eat raw meat; sushi, oysters, carpaccio or have green fingers that often find themselves in the soil?
The times we may be exposed to parasitic infections are many and the symptoms may often go unnoticed for a longer period of time. When a parasitic infection does make itself known it is common to have symptoms such as for example a swollen abdomen, problems with your stomach and intestines, intolerance to different foodstuff, iron/vitamin/mineral deficiencies, fatigue, chronic headaches and that feeling that something isn’t quite right!
Many times it is difficult to distinguish the symptoms of a parasitic infection from other gastrointestinal problems, the only way to start taking control of your well-being and health is by finding out what is causing your symptoms and a good way to start is by finding out if you are harbouring uninvited guests.
Parasites create a general imbalance in the body while many parasitic infections can go unnoticed, others make themselves more clearly noticeable and can negatively affect your energy level and sleep. When the immune system and gut are out of balance, as a result of a parasitic infection, it can be expressed in reduced energy and stamina, you can experience tension in the body and anxiety and your ability to handle stress is also reduced.
Some parasitic infections can also infect nearby organs next to the gut – for example the liver and kidneys, which has a direct negative impact on your well-being. All in all a parasitic infection can cause a lot of trouble in the body without us really understanding what the cause is. A recurring symptom is that many people with parasitic infections experience disturbed sleep and an inability to relax.
More often parasitic infections cause diffuse symptoms that are difficult to detect. If you experience temporary or chronic intestinal problems such as IBS, bloating, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, gas or constipation – parasites and fungal infection (Candida and mould) may be possible causes.
Some find that the abdominal pain caused by tapeworms can mimic the pain of appendicitis and in some cases, whipworm can cause stools that contain a mixture of water, mucus and blood. Below we have compiled the most common occurring intestinal problems for the respective parasites to provide a simpler overview. Please note that this does not mean that all of these symptoms are present in each case – a parasitic infection often manifests itself somewhat differently in each individual.
Parasites can directly affect the intestines by causing increased or decreased appetite in the infected person. A parasitic infection can cause cravings for sweets or fats, which in turn can lead to weight gain. There are also parasitic infections that can increase or decrease your appetite in connection with the fact that they secrete substances directly in the intestine affecting your appetite and inhibiting your absorption of nutrients.
Parasites such as tapeworms and Blastocystis species can cause loss of appetite and weight loss. A more severe infection with unicellular parasites (Protozoa) can lead to weight loss by preventing the intestinal absorption of nutrients, fat, lactose, vitamin A and vitamin B12*.
