A number of parasites can infect the human digestive system. The majority of
them take up at least temporary residence in the intestines. The following is
a partial list of parasites that can wreak havoc in those who 'play'
inside of arseholes.
Pinworm (Enterobius
vermicularis)
Pinworm, also known as seatworm
or threadworm, is one of the most
prevalent intestinal parasites in the United States, with approximately 40
million Americans infected. Worldwide, about 200 million people are infected
with pinworm. Pinworm can infect anyone, but children are at the highest risk;
an estimated 30 percent of the world's children are infected with pinworm.
Pinworms are small, white worms, about half an inch in length. Infection
occurs with the accidental ingestion of eggs. Symptoms usually appear about
two to four weeks after ingestion when the female pinworms migrate to the
rectum where they lay about 15,000 eggs each day. The main symptom of pinworm
is irritation around the anus and vagina. The itching may also result in sleep
disturbances.
A diagnosis of pinworm is made by seeing the worms or by microscopic detection
of the eggs, obtained by a "cellophane tape test." Pinworm is
normally treated with a single dose of anti-worm medication, although a second
dose may be given.
Giardia (Giardia
lamblia)
Giardia is one of the most common
intestinal parasites in the United States, second to only pinworm. Giardia
is believed to infect approximately 2.5 million Americans each year.
Giardia is primarily a waterborne
parasite. Most infections occur due to the ingestion of contaminated water.
Eating raw or undercooked food may also result in giardiasis,
but the occurrence is much less common. Symptoms normally appear one to two
weeks after infection. The primary symptom of a giardia
infection is diarrhea, but other symptoms such as flatulence, stomach cramps
and nausea may be present.
To diagnose giardiasis, the doctor
collects several stool samples to check for the parasites. Once the parasitic
infection has been diagnosed, the doctor prescribes one of several
prescription medications to treat giardia
infection.
Coccidia (Cryptosporidium)
Coccidia are single-celled parasites that cause diarrhea. Many strains of
coccidia occur in pets and are not infectious to people, but a few strains,
such as Cryptosporidium sp., are.
Infection occurs due to the accidental ingestion of food or water contaminated
with Crytosporidium. Symptoms
normally appear about seven days after the infection. Some people may not
exhibit symptoms of infection; others may experience symptoms such as watery
diarrhea, weight loss, fever, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.
A diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis is made through an examination of stool
samples. No real treatments exist for this parasite, as most people recover on
their own. The patient is generally advised to drink plenty of fluids to
prevent dehydration as the infection runs its course.
Hookworm (Necator
americanus)
Hookworm is an intestinal parasite predominantly found in tropical and
subtropical regions of the world. Approximately one billion people (one fifth
of the world's total population) are infected with hookworm. Many species of
hookworm exist, but the most common species in the US is Necator
americanus.
People are infected by either ingestion of the larvae or direct contact with
soil that contains hookworm larvae. The larvae are able to penetrate the skin
and enter the bloodstream, eventually making their way to the small intestine.
Children are at especially high risk because of their tendency to play in the
soil or walk around barefoot.
Symptoms of a hookworm infection include irritation at the site of
penetration, weight loss, anemia, abdominal pain and diarrhea. This human
parasitic infection is diagnosed by checking stool samples for hookworm eggs.
Once diagnosed, medication is prescribed to treat the parasite. If the patient
is suffering from anemia, iron supplements are also given.
Protozoan Infections: Entamoeba
histolytica
Amebiasis is a disease caused by the parasite, Entamoeba
histolytica. The disease is not very common in the US and is normally
found in immigrants and people who have recently traveled to developing
countries.
Infection occurs through ingestion of contaminated food or water, or by
putting anything contaminated by Entamoeba
histolytica in the mouth. Most people infected by Entamoeba
don't exhibit symptoms, but some who are infected typically display
mild cases of loose stools and stomach pain. Symptoms occur anywhere from one
to four weeks after infection.
Diagnosis of amebiasis is made through the examination of a stool sample, but
this method is not always accurate; Entamoeba
histolytica resembles another much more common (and harmless) amoeba, Entamoeba
dispar. When examined under the microscope, Entamoeba
dispar may be mistaken for Entamoeba
histolytica. A blood test may be performed to accurately diagnose the
disease. Oral anti-parasitics are the primary form of treatment for amebiasis.
Roundworms (Ascaris
sp.)
Ascaris infection is the most common
parasitic infection in the world, and is primarily found in tropical and
subtropical regions. Roundworms are rare in the US, with most of the cases
occurring in rural areas. Children are at a higher risk of infection by
roundworms than adults.
Infection occurs with accidental ingestion of roundworm eggs. Most people
infected with roundworms show no symptoms whatsoever. People with more severe
infections may experience abdominal pain and slower weight gain. Occasionally,
people with a severe case of roundworms may have blocked intestines.
Diagnosis of Ascaris is made by
examining stool samples for roundworms and roundworm eggs. Once the diagnosis
has been made, medications are prescribed to treat the infection.
Strongyloidosis (Strongyloides
stercoralis)
Strongyloides stercoralis are unique
worms in that they have two separate life cycles: a parasitic one and a
free-living one. In the parasitic life cycle, Strongyloides
are very similar to hookworms. In the free-living life cycle, the worms are
able to survive and reproduce in the soil, without the need for a host.
People are infected through direct contact with soil containing larvae. The
larvae can penetrate the skin and make their way to the small intestine.
Larvae hatched from eggs within the intestine may also go through a process
called "autoinfection" where the larvae penetrate the intestinal
walls and go through the entire process of infection as if they had just
penetrated the skin.
Most people with strongyloidosis display no symptoms, although moderate and
severe infections may result in abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and
constipation. Examination of stool samples and blood tests are used in the
diagnosis. A variety of medications may be prescribed to treat the infection.
Tapeworms (Dipylidium
caninum)
Tapeworms are most common in dogs and cats, who acquire the parasite by
swallowing fleas infected with tapeworm larvae. The risk of a tapeworm
infection for humans is fairly low: The only way to become infected is to
swallow an infected flea.
Most people with tapeworm infections do not display any symptoms although
small particles that look like rice will be seen in the stool. To treat a
tapeworm infection, a medication called praziquantel
is prescribed to dissolve the tapeworms in the intestines.
Toxocariasis (Toxocara
canis and Toxocara cati)
Toxocariasis is a zoonotic disease caused by parasitic worms found in the
intestines of dogs (Toxocara canis)
and cats (Toxocara cati). Humans
contract the disease by accidentally ingesting Toxocara
eggs, which are expelled with the animal's stool.
Toxocariasis may occur in one of two forms:
Diagnosis of toxocariasis is performed through blood tests. Treatment depends
on the type of toxocariasis. For cases of VLM, anti-inflammatory medications
are prescribed. For OLM, treatment is focused on preventing permanent damage
to the eyes.
Trichinosis (Trichinella
spiralis)
Trichinosis is an infection by a
roundworm, Trichinella spiralis. The
infection is acquired by ingestion of raw or undercooked meat, predominantly
pork.
Most patients with trichinosis display no obvious symptoms, although patients
with a moderate or severe infection may experience abdominal pain and aching
muscles and joints.
The infection is diagnosed by blood tests or a close examination of the
patient's muscle tissue, where larvae are known to exist. Medications are
prescribed to treat the infection if the problem is caught in the early
stages. Once the worms encyst themselves in the muscle fibers, they are
difficult to eradicate and symptomatic treatment is employed to alleviate
patient suffering.
Whipworms (Trichuris
trichiura and Trichuris vulpis)
Whipworms get their name from their appearance: long and whip-like. Over sixty
species of whipworms exist, but very few species can infect humans.
Trichuris
trichiura is the human whipworm while
Trichurisvulpis
is the canine whipworm.
Trichurisvulpis
is mainly found in dogs, but very occasionally it is found in humans.
Like many other parasitic infections, whipworms are acquired by accidental
ingestion of the eggs. Children are at highest risk of infection. Most people
experience no symptoms, but severe cases of whipworm can cause abdominal pain,
diarrhea and bloody stools.
A whipworm infection is diagnosed by examining stool samples. If eggs are
present in the stool sample (female whipworms can lay as many as 10,000 eggs a
day), then a whipworm infection is confirmed. Prescription medication is the
most common form of treatment.
How'd
you like to catch what's on the dirty hands of "tolerant gays"?
Hey, is the person
handling your food at the restaurant an arse-fukk'r?
Resources
Arnold, L.K. (updated 2005). Trichinosis.
Beers, M.H. & Berkow, R. (ed). Gastrointestinal disorders. The
Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, 17th Edition. Merck Research
Laboratories, NJ, 1999.
Beers, M.H. & Berkow, R. (ed). Parasitic infections. The
Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, 17th Edition. Merck Research
Laboratories, NJ, 1999.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (updated 2004). Fact
sheet: Amebiasis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (updated 2004). Fact
sheet: Ascarisinfection.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (updated 2004). Fact
sheet: Cryptosporidiosis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (updated 2004). Fact
sheet: Dipylidium infection.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (updated 2004). Fact
sheet: Giardiasis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (updated 1999). Fact
sheet: Hookworm infection.
Kucik, C.J., Martin, G.L., Sortor, B.V. (2004, March 1). Common intestinal
parasites. American Family Physician 69(5),
1161-8.
Mar Vista Animal Medical Center. (2004). Coccidia.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. (updated 2005). Parasitic
roundworm diseases.
Ohio State University: College of Biological Sciences. (nd). Trichuris
spp.
Rutherford, K. (2001). Pinworm. Nemours
Foundation