There are around ninety species of common parasites. The most common examples include tapeworms, pinworms, roundworms, and hookworms. A tapeworm known as the fish tapeworm is the largest tapeworm that can live inside of a human. It can be up to thirty-three feet long. Pinworms are easily spread and occur mainly in children. These worms deposit their eggs in the human anus at night and contaminate bed sheets. If left untreated, pinworms can eventually travel to the uterus and fallopian tubes. In the case study titled “A Study On Entrobius Vermicularis Infection In A Appendices Removed By Surgery In Tabriz Hospitals,” researchers A. Dehgani and E. Fallah discovered a correlation between pinworm infection and childhood appendicitis.
Whipworms inject a fluid into human colon tissue. This fluid liquefies the tissue so that the whipworm can easily ingest it. People infested with hookworms often experience severe anemia and blood loss. In fact, one species of hookworm is labeled “Necatur Americanus.” This term translates to “American Murderer.” Up to two hundred thousand people are infected with blood flukes, which burrow into your skin to swim through your veins.
There are many ways to come into contact with a parasite like the ones mentioned above. Consuming undercooked meat can welcome worms into your body. Consuming Contaminated fruits and vegetables can also raise your risk. You can also contract parasites from pets if you do not deworm them regularly. Drinking water or swimming in water in underdeveloped countries can result in parasitic infection as well, as can international travel. An article published in the Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition presented research on the rates of parasitic infection in children living in Ecuador. It was discovered that over eighty-five percent of the two hundred stool samples collected contained at least one parasite.
Symptoms of parasite infection are varied. These symptoms can include:
- Bloating or gas
- Stomach Pain
- Unexplained weight loss
- Exhaustion
- Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
- Grinding your teeth in your sleep
- Unexplained skin rashes
- Anxiety and/or depression
- Visual and/or auditory hallucinations
- Passing a worm in your stool
Diagnosing a parasitic infection is very difficult. Parasites can travel throughout the body and remain undetected. Additionally, many doctors are not trained to ascertain whether or not you have parasites. You will most likely need to find an infectious disease specialist to diagnose this issue. Doctors will collect stool samples, and tests on these samples may prove inconclusive. In some instances, you may need an x-ray test. Medical procedures only diagnose around twenty percent of cases involving parasites. To test for pinworms, a doctor may touch a piece of tape to your anus and then check the sample under a microscope to look for eggs.
In homeopathic clinics, physicians will take a holistic approach to infection and prescribe natural medication that will improve your immune system. If you’d like to test for parasites in the comfort of your own home, there are a number of at-home parasite test kits. You’ll still need to send your samples to laboratory for some of these tests.
You can flush parasites from your body naturally by avoiding refined foods and sugar. Eating the following foods can help kill many types of parasitic worms:
- Raw garlic
- Pomegranates
- Pumpkin seeds
- Beets
- Black walnuts
- Oregano
- Anise
In one homeopathic study, researchers concluded that a mix of papaya seeds and honey killed parasites in twenty-three people out of a test population of thirty. Ingesting probiotics and digestive enzymes will make your digestive tract inhospitable to worms.
The human body can host any number of dangerous parasites. While these infections are difficult to diagnose, there are a number of natural ways to rid your body of them.