Parasitic Diseases

Parasites are living things that use other living things - like your body - for food and a place to live. You can get them from contaminated food or water, a bug bite, or sexual contact. Some parasitic diseases are easily treated and some are not.

Parasites range in size from tiny, one-celled organisms called protozoa to worms that can be seen with the naked eye. Some parasitic diseases occur in the United States. Contaminated water supplies can lead to Giardia infections. Cats can transmit toxoplasmosis, which is dangerous for pregnant women. Others, like malaria, are common in other parts of the world.

If you are traveling, it's important to drink only water you know is safe. Prevention is especially important. There are no vaccines for parasitic diseases. Some medicines are available to treat parasitic infections.

Symptoms of Parasitic Diseases

The following features are indicative of Parasitic Diseases:

moderate to severe shaking chills
high fever
sweating
headache
vomiting
diarrhea
foul-smelling diarrhea
fatigue
abdominal cramps
bloating
gas
nausea
weight loss

It is possible that Parasitic Diseases shows no physical symptoms and still is present in a patient.

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Common Causes of Parasitic Diseases

The following are the most common causes of Parasitic Diseases:

mosquito bite on human skin
transmission of parasite in the liver or into the bloodstream
swallowing contaminated water
eating contaminated food

Other Causes of Parasitic Diseases

The following are the less common causes of Parasitic Diseases:

exposure of infected blood from mother to unborn child
through blood transfusions
by sharing needles used to inject drugs

Risk Factors for Parasitic Diseases

The following factors may increase the likelihood of Parasitic Diseases:

people without access to safe drinking water
anal sex

Prevention of Parasitic Diseases

Yes, it may be possible to prevent Parasitic Diseases. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:

limiting exposure to mosquitoes
spraying your home with insecticide
covering the skin
sleeping under a net
wash the hands properly
avoid drinking untreated water
use bottled water
avoid oral-anal sex

Occurrence of Parasitic Diseases

Number of Cases

The following are the number of Parasitic Diseases cases seen each year worldwide:

Very common > 10 Million cases

Common Age Group

Parasitic Diseases can occur at any age.

Common Gender

Parasitic Diseases can occur in any gender.

Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Parasitic Diseases

The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Parasitic Diseases:

Blood tests: To detect the presence of the parasite
Stool test: To examine the presence of parasites

Doctor for Diagnosis of Parasitic Diseases

Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Parasitic Diseases:

Infectious disease specialist
Gastroenterologist

Complications of Parasitic Diseases if untreated

Yes, Parasitic Diseases causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Parasitic Diseases is left untreated:

cerebral malaria
breathing problems
organ failure
anemia
low blood sugar
dehydration
failure to thrive
lactose intolerance

Medicines for Parasitic Diseases

Below is the list of medicines used for Parasitic Diseases:

Albendazole

Brands: Alba, Albenda, Alzental, Zentel, Zentel, Albaran (India), Aliza (India), Ben (India), Santil (India) and Zolox (India)
Metronidazole

Brands:

Self-care for Parasitic Diseases

The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Parasitic Diseases:

Limiting exposure to mosquitoes
Spraying your home with insecticide
Covering your skin during night
Sleeping under a net

Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Parasitic Diseases

The following alternate medicine and therapies are known to help in the treatment or management of Parasitic Diseases:

Use traditional herbal medicines: Annona muricata, Mangifera indica, Kalanchoe pinnata Lam, Momordica charantia etc used as antipyretics or antimalarials

Patient Support for Treatment of Parasitic Diseases

The following actions may help Parasitic Diseases patients:

Health education strategies: Raises the awareness of malaria and provides the importance of control measures
Community participation: Lowers the incidence of malaria in some areas of the developing world

Time for Treatment of Parasitic Diseases

While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Parasitic Diseases to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision: