Having a parasite infestation in your body is a like a nightmare. Plenty of videos circulate the internet showing people with severe parasitic infection, and it is usually a horrifying and ugly sight. The fact of the matter is, having a parasite is more common than you think.
It is a common misconception that parasites can only infest children and mostly people in underdeveloped countries. There are many other ways of acquiring it. One is contracting it via contaminated food and water. Under-cooked meat or even raw dish such as sushi or sashimi are often cause of tapeworm infestation. Even fruits and vegetables can harbor parasites. Walking barefoot even for a short time can allow some parasites to travel from the ground through your body.
Furthermore, an infected person can transfer a parasite unknowingly through microscopic parasite eggs onto anything they touch. Thus, hand washing/disinfecting is an important habit that everyone should practice.
Here are the symptoms that indicate you may be harboring parasites:
1. Unexplained Digestive Issues
Some are likely to experience chronic diarrhea, gas or bloating. Meanwhile, some reported cases experience constipation. If you already sought treatment, changed your diet to a highly alkaline one and take good bacteria through cultured food but still experience those symptoms, it is time to get checked for a parasite.
2. Mental Distress
Surprisingly, some schizophrenia suffers were actually infested by parasites. Other symptoms of the infestation can be depression, anxiety, visual hallucinations, behavioral changes, fatigue, exhaustion and frequent feelings of apathy. How did this happen?
Apparently, the gut is full of neurons and neurotransmitters and makes up what is known as the enteric nervous system. Thus, an inflammation in the gut caused by parasites can also lead to an inflammation in the brain.
3. Autoimmune Disorders
Some skin irritations or unexplained rashes, hives or eczema can be a symptom of parasite infection. This is due to the toxins the parasites released into the bloodstream. When these toxins interact with your blood cells, they are likely to cause skin irritations which may be misdiagnosed as an autoimmune disorder.
4. Malnourishment
You might be diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia if you were infested with a parasite that feeds off your red blood cells. Meanwhile, other parasites consume your food making you underweight, malnourished and always hungry.
Different parasites might cause different symptoms, but if you experience any of the signs listed above, it is a good decision to test for parasites. Remember, to have an effective treatment, the kind of parasite you have should be clearly identified, thus it is not good to self-medicate. Furthermore, even these microorganisms can develop tolerance to anthelmintic medications, thus proper dosage should always be observed.
