Parasitic infections

Description

Infections that are caused by microorganisms called parasites which live inside the host’s body and take nutrition from the host.

These infections are invasive and badly affect the host.

Causes

Parasitic infections are categorized as:

Protozoan infections caused by single-celled organisms e.g.Giardiasis
Helminthic infections caused by worms e.g. tapeworms, roundworms, flatworms, and hookworms.
Ectoparasite infections that are caused by mosquitos, fleas, and mites e.g. Malaria, allergy.

Risk factors

Food and water contamination, waste, soil and poor sanitation conditions are the main factors contributing to infections by worms and protozoa.

A person is more likely to contact an infection if:

They have an unhygienic lifestyle e.g. no concept of hand sanitization and clean cooking.
Are immunocompromised due to some existing illness.
Don’t have access to clean drinking water.
Eating raw and unwashed fruits and vegetables.
Swim in lakes or ponds where there’s a mix of sewerage water and presence of protozoa.
An environment that involves constant contact with soil e.g. Kids playing in sand and dirt will eat with dirty hands later and are most likely to get roundworm infection.
Stagnant water due to blocked drains is an excellent spot for mosquitoes to breed. Mosquitos are carriers of Plasmodium parasite which causes Malaria.

Symptoms

Symptoms of different parasitic infections vary:

Ascariasis is a Roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides) infection which first produces symptoms of coughing and wheezing as the parasite migrates to throat and lungs first. After that, it goes into the intestine and causes abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, blood, and worm in stools.
Malaria is contacted by mosquito bite and it invades the bloodstream causing symptoms of chills and high-grade fever along with body ache.
Trichomoniasis is a parasitic infection that is transmitted sexually. Usually, it’s without symptoms but may cause itching, redness, irritation, and discharge in host’s genital area.
Giardiasis is contacted by contaminated food and water and from an infected person. It causes diarrhea, upset stomach, gases, greasy stools, and dehydration.
Toxoplasmosis is contacted from cat feces. It causes flu-like symptoms with fever, swollen lymph nodes and muscular pain lasting even a month. It is particularly dangerous for pregnant women.
Ancylostomiasis is Hookworm infection that first produces a rash on the skin when the parasite penetrates the skin. Later, the symptoms appear of abdominal pain, diarrhea and decreased appetite with weight loss. Anemia is the typical sign of this infection.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of parasitic infections is made through:

Blood tests for protozoa infections like CBC and Malarial Parasite test.
Stool tests for checking worms and eggs in a stool sample.
Endoscopy or colonoscopy if stool tests are insufficient to make a diagnosis.
X-rays, MRI and CT scans will help see any organ damage caused by parasites.

Management

Before medicines, few lifestyle changes will help you to avoid coming across an infection. You must:

Wash hands and all raw veggies and fruits before cooking.
Boil water before drinking.
Eat clean and take care of personal hygiene.
Practice safe sex and use a condom.
Make sure the kids wash their hands and take a bath after playing in soil and dirt.

Medicines for treating parasitic infections include:

Anti-malarial drugs for treating malaria.
Antihelmintic drugs for worm infections
Antibiotic

When to consult a doctor?

It is advised that you see a doctor if the fever and episode of diarrhea associated with parasitic infection gets worse and the symptoms don’t get better with the recommended treatment.