Parasites: The Missing Diagnosis? by Cori Young

Parasites, commonly thought of as only affecting those in developing countries, actually affect 1 in 6 people in North America and are the most common disease condition in the world. For many chronic conditions this can be the missing diagnosis. For example, amebiasis can be misdiagnosed as Chron's disease, and roundworm can be mistaken for peptic ulcers. IBS, food allergies, and chronic fatigue syndrome have all been found to have parasitic causes.

WHAT IT IS

A parasite is an organism which lives off of a host body, such as humans plants and animals,feeding on the nutrients, cells and organs of the host. Some reproduce by producing thousands of eggs, or simply replicating by cell division, within the host. Living in the body, they often move around and graze, eating cells and draining nutrients from the host’s tissues, while secreting fecal wastes.

CAUSES

Transmitted in a variety of ways,it is likely that everyone is host to some type of parasite. Transmission can occur through ingestion of cysts contained in comtaminated food & water, person-to-person contact, cockroaches, houseflies, etc. as in the case of amebiasis, giardiasis, Some are spread by insect bites, (Chagas' disease, malaria). Most microbial infections come from our food and water sources but can also be transmitted by human or animal contact. Simply petting and grooming our pets can cause infection as parasites’ eggs pass from their fur to our hands, nose and mouth. Some parasites (e.g. pinworms) can even be transmitted through the air and are in the dust we breath. It’s likely, therefore, that those who live in the same household will all have the same parasitic infections, whether they are currently symptomatic or not.

SYMPTOMS

Wide-ranging symptoms can be chronic or acute and include:

NAUSEA

VOMITTING

DIARRHEA

BLOOD OR MUCUS IN STOOL

ITCHY SKIN

SKIN RASHES

ABDOMINAL PAIN

FLATULENCE

SULFUROUS BURPING

DECREASED APPETITE

WEIGHT LOSS

INTENSE ITCHING AROUND ANUS AND /OR NOSE

SLEEP DISTURBANCES

ABNORMAL VAGINAL DISCHARGE

LIVER/SPLEEN ENLARGEMENT

DIAGNOSIS

Unless a lab is is experienced in looking for microbial infections it is highly like that diagnostic tests will miss them because they take so many different forms within their many stages of development. To locate a clinic near you contact the Great Smokies Diagnostic Labratories at: http://www.gsdl.com

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BIO:

Cori Young is an author and herbalist who publishes a line of health & wellness charts which can be seen at http://www.WellnessWallcharts.com

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