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Do Some Intestinal Parasites Have Medical Advantages?

VIDEO – The Story of a Man with Parasites in his Brain

admin — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:45:01 +0000

We’ve already discussed the health dangers of intestinal parasites. However, a larger danger to your health are brain parasites. In the video below, the Animal Planet takes a look at a guy who has parasites living in his brain. Here is his story and how they got the parasites out.

Source: Animal Planet on YouTube

Intestinal worms are more common in the average person and will cause a wide variety of negative symptoms, but parasites in your brain poses the most severe and immedieate health concern.

If you are experiencing any problems with your brain. It is imperative that you see a doctor or specialist immediately. Parasites in your brain are not very common, but if you do have them, you need to get rid of them as soon as possible. There are many other serious conditions that can affect your brain. Brain Anuerysms are very common and affect many Americans every year.

Do Some Intestinal Parasites Have Medical Advantages?

Internal Parasites: Listing the Different Types of Parasites

admin — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:35:22 +0000

Are you infected with internal parasites? These harmful organisms are more common than you may think. There are several types of parasites that can infect the human body. Here is a list of parasites that may be affecting your health

Protozoa internal parasite

Protozoa are very small parasites that cannot be seen with the human eye. They also include some of the most common parasitic invaders in the United States, namely,
Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum.

Giardia is responsible for the common illness giardiasis. Symptoms of this condition include digestive disorders such as diarrhea, bloating, foul-smelling gas, nausea, weight loss and abdominal cramping. Giardia can be transmitted via food or water that has been contaminated by human or animal feces. Giardia can also be carried by household pets. This intestinal parasite makes its home in the small intestine and interferes with the body’s levels of immunoglobulin A, vitamin A and vitamin B12.
Cryptosporidium is another common protozoan parasite. It is a water-borne internal parasite but it can also be transmitted from unsanitary diaper changing conditions at day care facilities. Once inside the human body, Cryptosporidium makes its home in the intestines and is responsible for such symptoms as diarrhea, fever, nausea, abdominal cramps and migraines.

Nematode internal parasites

This category of internal parasites includes the larger species such as roundworm, hookworm, and pinworms.

Roundworm: (Ascaris lumbricoides) The roundworm is the most common parasite in humans throughout the world. This flat worm resembles an earthworm and can infect humans via contact with contaminated food, feces or soil. Once ingested, roundworms move through the liver and the lungs causing damage as they go.
Symptoms of a roundworm infection include abdominal pain, swelling, allergic reactions, sleep disturbances, and significant weight changes. In children, roundworm infection may be responsible for conditions such as nervousness, colic, poor appetite, allergic reactions, and malnutrition.
Hookworms: (Necator americanus, Ancylostoma duodenal) Hookworms are another intestinal worm that is commonly found in warm, moist soil environments. They can enter the human body by penetrating the skin. This is why people who are frequently barefoot are often infected with hookworms. Once in the body, hookworms will travel through the blood stream into the lungs and then to the trachea. Hookworm parasites may cause symptoms such as sore throats and coughing and illnesses such as bronchitis. Hookworms can then work their way into the esophagus where the will be swallowed into the digestive system. Hookworm infection can lead to symptoms that include itchy rashes, pimples, anemia, vitamin deficiencies, and weight loss.
Pinworm: (Enterobius vermicularis) Pinworm is one of the most common internal worms in the United States. It is found primarily in children and it can infect the body via several pathways. Pinworms tend to lay their eggs right outside the anus. These eggs can then contaminate underwear, pajamas, sheets, toilet seats, sofas, hands, doorknobs, and anywhere that contaminated hands have touched. The eggs can also float about in the air, therefore even with careful hygiene, it is possible to become infected with pinworms simply be breathing the eggs in. The main symptom of pinworm infection is anal itching, especially at night, due to the pinworm eggs that lay outside the anus. The itchiness can then lead to insomnia and, fatigue, restlessness, and irritability as a result.

Cestodes (Tapeworms) – Internal Parasites

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Tapeworms are very large worms, the largest of all of the parasitic worms. (The largest of tapeworm, the beef tapeworm can grow up to forty feet (twelve meters) long! There are several species of tapeworm: the beef tapeworm (Taenia saginata), the pork tapeworm (T. solium), the fish tapeworm (Diaphyllobothrium latum), and the dog tapeworm (Dipylidium caninum). Each tapeworm can infect the human body via consumption of contaminated fish or meat (for instance, a human can become infected with beef tapeworms by eating infected beef).

Beef tapeworm internal parasite infection is not usually life threatening, but it can result in diarrhea, abdominal cramping, nervousness, nausea, and loss of appetite. Pork tapeworm infection can be dangerous and even lethal. The larvae of these tapeworms can invade the muscles, heart, eye, and brain as they migrate through the body. Once in the brain, pork tapeworms may result in seizures and brain deterioration. This type of infection is often misdiagnosed as epilepsy.

Fish tapeworm infection is common in the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada. Humans can become infected by eating contaminated fish that is raw or lightly cooked. Fish tapeworm infection can cause serious deficiencies in the host’s vitamin B12 levels. Symptoms of fish tapeworm infection include nausea, anorexia, and pain or fullness in the upper abdomen.

Trematodes (Flukes) – Internal Parasites

Trematodes, or flukes, can make their home in many different areas of the human body. There are blood flukes (Schistosoma spp), liver flukes (Clonorchis sinensis), oriental lung flukes (Paragoniumus westermani), sheep liver flukes (Fasciola hepatica), and intestinal flukes (Fasciolopsis buski).

Blood flukes can penetrate the human skin. Infection can occur via contact with contaminated water (such as bathing or swimming.) Liver, oriental lung, sheep liver, and intestinal flukes, on the other hand, are all transmitted via consumption of contaminated food. Fluke infections are rare in the United States; however, they are still possible. Symptoms of fluke infections include urinary disorders, liver problems, hepatitis, abdominal pain, liver abscesses, fibrosis, diarrhea, and vomiting.

by Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN, DABFM

Do Some Intestinal Parasites Have Medical Advantages?

Fluke Parasites: How They Leech Your Nutrients

admin — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:53:23 +0000

What A Fluke Looks Like

Flukes in the Liver

What is a Fluke Parasite?

Fluke parasites are a type of parasitic flatworm or trematode that can cause infections and diseases of the digestive tract and lungs of its host species. The name “trematode” is Greek in origin, meaning, “having holes.” This refers to the external suckers that adult flukes use to leech nutrients from their hosts.

Fluke parasites have fairly complex life cycles and must generally inhabit several hosts. Humans can contract a fluke parasite infection by consuming uncooked fish, plants, or animals or from contact with fluke-infected waters.

Where is a Fluke Parasite Found?

A Fluke parasite is commonly found throughout Africa, South American, the Middle East, and Asia. While it is not very common, there have been reports of flukes being found in North America.

Do Fluke Parasites Affect Humans?

There are several different species of flukes, and each one resides in a different location in its human host, and affects the human body differently. Generally, a fluke parasite will inhabit the intestinal tract or the lungs. Diseases caused by liver flukes include fascioliasis, opisthorchiasis, and clonorchiasis.

There have been documented cases of liver fluke parasite infection in Europe, the United States, the Middle East, China, Japan, and Africa. Lung flukes are responsible for diseases such as paragonimiasis, a common infection in the Far East, Southeast Asia, Africa, Central and South America, Indonesia, and the Pacific Islands. According to international experts, there are roughly fifty million liver and lung fluke infections cases worldwide.

What Are The Types of Fluke Parasite Infections?

Fascioliasis

The sheep liver fluke parasite, Fasciola hepatica, is responsible for the development of fascioliasis. Humans can become infected with this fluke via the consumption of watercress, water chestnuts, or other plants that are contaminated with parasitic cysts.

Once inside the human body, the fluke parasite will pass through the digestive system and travel to the liver, where it will cause inflammation and tissue destruction. Adult flukes can persist for ten to fifteen in the liver before they proceed to the bile ducts to lay their eggs. Symptoms of parasite infection, specifically fascioliasis include headaches, rashes, muscle pain, jaundice, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, anemia, nausea, and vomiting.

Opisthorchiasis & Clonorchiasis

Both opisthorchiasis and clonorchiasis are caused by the Chinese liver fluke, Clonorchis sinensis, and Opisthorchis viverrini or Opisthorchis felineus. These infections occur frequently throughout the world, affecting more than 20 million people in Japan, China, Southeast Asia, and India. Humans may become infected by one of these fluke parasites by ingesting undercooked or raw fish that is contaminated.

The symptoms of opisthorchiasis and clonorchiasis include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, swollen liver, fatigue, headaches, rashes, muscle pain, and fever.

Paragonimiasis

There are two types of lung fluke, Paragonimus westermani or Paragonimus skrjabini that may be responsible for the development of paragonimiasis. Lung flukes are generally larger than liver flukes, but their life cycle is similar. Humans may contract a lung fluke infection by eating raw or undercooked crabs and crayfish or drinking from a contaminated water supply.

Once inside the human body, lung flukes will travel to the small intestine and then migrate towards the lungs. Fluke parasites lay their eggs and cause inflammation and scar tissue to develop. In many instances, these pockets of infection will rupture, causing the infected individual to cough up fluke eggs, blood, and inflamed lung tissue. In addition to coughing, other symptoms of a lung fluke infection include chest pain, fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and bloody sputum.

Lung fluke parasite infections can also lead to the development of other conditions such as pneumonia, bronchitis, or a lung abscess. In one percent of the cases, lung flukes may continue traveling through the body until they reach the brain. Patients with fluke parasite infections of the brain may experience seizures or a fatal inflammation of the tissue in the brain called encephalitis.

How Can I Prevent a Fluke Parasite Infection?

The best way to prevent a fluke infection is to be sure that you kill any flukes that may be attached to the meat and vegetables that you eat. Wash and peel raw fruits and vegetables. And carefully cook meats to the appropriate temperature. Processes such as salting, pickling, drying, and smoking do not always kill the fluke parasites in meat.

Always be sure to steer clear of water that is from a questionable or unknown source. A fluke parasite can be transmitted to humans by swimming or bathing in contaminated water or drinking water that is infected with flukes. If you are not sure of the quality of the water, buy a water filter before drinking it.Also, as flukes can infect fish and aquatic plants, avoid eating raw or undercooked fish or salads made from aquatic vegetables.

You can also try to kill off interntal flukes by doing a parasite cleanse. There are many ways to do a cleansing of these harmful organisms, so be sure to do the proper research.

by Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN, DABFM

Do Some Intestinal Parasites Have Medical Advantages?

Brain Parasites: An Uncommon, but Dangerous Infection

admin — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:48:50 +0000

Why Do Parasites Live In The Brain?

Different parasites choose to make their home in different places in the body. Some parasitic worms prefer the environment of the digestive system, while certain flukes thrive in the tissues of the lungs. Other parasites, like the pig tapeworm, Taenia solium, make their way to the brain to live and multiply.

The brain is filled with oxygen and nutrients, and it also has structures in place that prevent the immune system from attacking parasites in the initial stages of infection. This makes for an inviting home for brain parasites!

How Do Parasites Get Into The Brain?

Most brain parasites must make a rather long journey in order to make their home in the brain. In addition, the brain can be a difficult place to invade due the protective barrier between the bloodstream and brain fluid, called the blood-brain barrier. This barrier between the blood and the fluid in the brain is comprised of cells that form a tight seal around the blood vessels that bring nutrients to and from the brain. This makes it difficult (but not impossible) for parasites and other toxins to enter the brain.

When parasite numbers become overwhelmingly large, or when a deficiency exists in the systems of the brain, parasites can make the leap from the bloodstream to the fluids of the brain.

So scientists have speculated that the parasites in the brain may release an enzyme that dissolves a portion of the blood brain barrier which allows the organism to enter. However, this is just a theory.

Which Parasites Can Infect The Brain?

There are two known brain parasites:

1) The pork tapeworm, Taenia solium
2) The amoeba, Naegleria fowleri

Taenia solium:
The pig tapeworm, Taenia solium, is responsible for the condition known as neurocysticercosis, the most common parasitic infection of the brain. Neurocysticercosis affects more than fifty million people all over the world, and it is the leading cause of brain seizures. This disease develops when larvae from Taenia solium enter the body via the ingestion of diseased pork meat. Once inside the body, the tapeworm migrates to the small intestine and remains there until it reaches maturity. From here the parasite makes its way to the brain where it attaches either to the brain tissues or to the cavities within the brain.

The parasite will then form cystic lesions that can also affect the eyes, muscles and spinal cord. The exact location of the cysts will determine the symptoms of the disease. Parasites in the brain can interrupt the normal neurological activity and cause brain seizures. On the other hand, parasites that attach to the brain-fluid cavities will cause symptoms such as headaches, migraines, nausea, and dizziness, as well as brain seizures. These additional symptoms may occur because the parasite is interrupting the normal flow of brain fluid within the brain. Over time, this blockage of fluid may cause pressure to build up that can lead to permanent brain damage.

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Naegleria fowleri:
Unlike the pork tapeworm, Naegleria fowleri, another common parasite in the brain, have only infected about 175 people in the world. Therefore this organism is not as easily known or understood. It is rare to become infected with this parasite, but extremely dangerous if you do.

Naegleria fowleri is an dangerous brain parasite that causes a condition called primary amoebic meningo-cephalitis. Out of the 175 cases of this disease that have been reported, only six patients have survived. For this reason, scientists are eagerly searching for more answers as to these particular kinds of parasites in the brain and how they can be treated.

Naegleria fowleri is an amoeba that is commonly found in the wild, especially in warm freshwater lakes and ponds. It can also survive in heated swimming pools. This parasite can infect a human host that is swimming in contaminated waters by attaching to the inside of its host’s nose and then traveling up the nose and into the brain. Once in the area of the brain, the amoeba releases an enzyme that allows it to dissolve the host’s tissues, and enter the tissues of the brain. Naegleria fowleri can then into feast on the valuable nutrients with the neurons of the brain. This is why this particular parasite causes such rapid death.

In addition to the brain damage caused by destroying the brain’s neurons, the presence this parasite can also cause inflammation of the tissues within the brain. This inflammation can lead to additional brain damage and even death.

article written by Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN, DABFM