Intestinal parasites
Parasitic infection – intestinal
Signs and symptoms
Parasites can remain in the intestines for years without showing any symptoms. When doing this, the following symptoms appear.
Abdominal pain
Diarrhea
Nausea and vomiting
Gas or bloating
dysentery (loose stools containing blood and mucus)
Rash and itching around the rectum and genitals
Stomach pain or tenderness
Feeling tired
Lose weight
Worms in your stool
What causes it?
These things increase the risk of getting intestinal parasites.
Live in or visit areas where parasites live
Travel internationally
Poor sanitation (both food and water)
Poor hygiene
Age Children and the elderly are more likely to be infected.
Exposure to childcare and institutional care
Immune system is weakened
HIV or AIDS
What to expect at your doctor’s office
Your doctor will ask if you have recently traveled abroad or if you have lost weight. If your doctor suspects you have intestinal parasites, he or she will order one or more of the following tests.
Stool analysis (self-stool analysis) can identify both helminths and protozoa. Stool samples should be obtained before antidiarrheal medications or antibiotics are administered or before X-rays containing barium are obtained. Several stool samples may be required to detect the parasite.
The “Scotch tape” test identifies pinworms by touching the tape to the anus several times and then looking through the tape under a microscope for eggs.
Your doctor may use X-rays containing barium to diagnose more serious conditions caused by parasites, but this test is not usually required.
Treatment options
Drug treatment
Your doctor will choose the most effective treatment for intestinal parasites. You may need a single dose, or you may need to take the medicine for several weeks. Be careful to use the medicine exactly as directed, otherwise it will be ineffective.
Complementary and complementary therapies
Conventional medical treatment kills parasites faster and with fewer side effects than other treatments. Alternative therapies can be helpful along with conventional medicine. However, a doctor must find out what type of organism is causing your problem before starting treatment. The following dietary guidelines can help prevent the parasite from multiplying.
Nutrition and supplements
Avoid refined foods, fruit, juice, dairy, and all sugars except honey.
Eat more raw garlic, pumpkin seeds, pomegranate, beets, and carrots, which are traditionally used to kill parasites. In one study, researchers found that a mixture of honey and papaya seeds cleared the stool of parasites in 23 out of 30 people. Drink plenty of water to cleanse your body.
Eat more fiber, it will help to eliminate the worms.
Probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Saccharomyces boulardii, bifidobacteria). Help keep your digestive tract healthy. Probiotics are not suitable for some immunocompromised patients. Talk to your doctor.
Digestive enzymes help restore the intestinal tract to a state that makes it impossible for parasites to survive. Papain is an enzyme from the papaya plant that helps kill worms when taken 30 minutes before or after a meal. Papain may increase bleeding in people with blood clotting disorders or those taking blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin).
Vitamin C. Supports immunity. If diarrhea occurs, reduce the dose.
Zinc. Supports the immune system. Zinc can interact with some medications, especially some antibiotics, which may not be suitable for people with HIV/AIDS. Talk to your doctor.
Plant
Herbs are a way to strengthen the body’s systems and improve tone. As with any treatment, check with your doctor before starting treatment. You can use the plant as a dried extract (capsule, powder, tea), glycerite (glycerin extract), and tincture (alcohol extract). People with a history of alcoholism should not drink tincture.
Many herbs used to treat intestinal parasites can cause harmful side effects or interfere with other medications. Use them only under the supervision of a qualified doctor. Your health care provider should treat you with the mildest herb that is effective for the type of parasite you have. Some of the herbs your provider may consider are:
Garlic (Allium sativum)
Barberry (Berberis vulgaris)
Golden seal (Hydrastis canadensis)
Oregon grape (Berberis aquifolium)
Anise (Pimpinella anisum)
Wormwood ((Artemisia annua))
Mentha crispa
Black walnut (Juglans nigra)
Homeopathy
As with any treatment, your healthcare provider must first diagnose your parasite. Before prescribing a remedy, homeopaths take into account the individual’s constitution, including your physical, emotional, and mental makeup. An experienced homeopath will evaluate all these factors, as well as the current symptoms, when choosing the best remedy for the individual. The following drugs can be used.
Cina
Cuprum oxidatum nigrum
Indigo
Teucrium
Podophyllum
Spigelia
Sabadilla
Stanum
Following
Your doctor will retest the stool to make sure the parasite is gone and give you advice on how to avoid re-infection. Follow these instructions carefully. A second acquisition of the parasite can cause more serious health problems.
Special considerations
The severity and duration of the disease varies depending on the specific intestinal parasite. Complications often occur in the elderly and in people with serious illnesses such as AIDS.
Intestinal parasites can be more serious if you’re pregnant. Your doctor will tell you which medications are safe to use during pregnancy. Your doctor should carefully monitor your treatment for intestinal parasites during pregnancy.
Support research
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Dinleyici EC, Eren M, Dogan N, Reyhanioglu S, Yargic ZA, Vandenplas Y. Clinical efficacy of Saccharomyces boulardii or metronidazole in symptomatic children with Blastocystis hominis infection. Parasitol Res. 2011;108(3):541-5.
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Lima AA, Soares AM, Lima NL, et al. Effect of vitamin A supplementation on gut barrier, growth, total parasitemia and specific Giardia spp infection in Brazilian children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2010;50(3):309-15.
Mishra PK, Palma M, Bleich D, Loke P, Gause WC. Systemic effects of intestinal helminth infections. Mucosal Immunol. 2014;7(4):753-62