Intestinal Parasites (Protozoa & Worms)

Anyone could get a type of intestinal parasite, which includes protozoa and worms, and from their name ‘parasitic’, they’re organisms that parasitize other organisms and live at their expense.

Intestinal parasites (protozoa & worms)

Intestinal parasites, which include protozoa and worms, are organisms that parasitize other organisms (the host) and live and feed at their expense. They can also use this host as a mediator to move to and parasitize another organism. On the other hand, these parasites don’t provide any benefits; on the contrary, they cause annoying symptoms and sometimes serious complications.

Protozoa are organisms that consist of one cell and could reproduce inside the human host body. The most common types are giardia, amebiasis, cyclospora, blastocystosis, and cystoisosporiasis.

Worms don’t usually reproduce inside the human host body, but they lay the eggs to go out with the feces. They include pinworms (enterobiasis), ascaris (ascariasis), whipworms (trichuriasis), hookworms (ancylostomiasis), strongyloids, tapeworms, and trichinella.

Intestinal parasites are very common, and around 25% of people worldwide have one type of them, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), especially ascaris (ascariasis).

Causes of intestinal parasites (protozoa & worms)

The transmission of intestinal parasites (protozoa & worms) mostly occurs through the eggs that go out with the feces and might enter the human body through:

• Contaminated water sources.
• Food that is contaminated with contaminated water or was grown in contaminated soil.
• Putting the hands in the mouth without being sure that they’re clean.
• Walking barefoot on contaminated soil because the larvae of certain worms can enter the body through the skin.
• The risk of getting intestinal parasites increases in humid and warm areas, in regions with no clean water, if a large number of people live together, defecating outside, and using human feces as a fertilizer.

Symptoms of intestinal parasites (protozoa & worms)

Intestinal parasites might not cause any symptoms, and the symptoms could differ between the types of protozoa and worms. In general, the symptoms include the following:

• Anal itching.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Abdominal pain.
• Diarrhea.
• Bloating and gas.

Complications of intestinal parasites (protozoa & worms)

The severity of the symptoms increases with the increasing of the number of the intestinal parasites inside the body, and the risk of serious complications also increases in the case of pregnancy or weak immunity. According to the type of the parasite, not treating the condition might lead to the following:

• Malnutrition.
• Dehydration.
• Iron-deficiency anemia.
• Rectal prolapse.
• Dysentery.
• Inflammation of the appendix, pancreas, gallbladder, bile duct, or peritoneum (the tissue that lines the inside of the abdominal cavity).
• Intussusception (a part of the intestines folds partially inside another one).
• Bowel obstruction.
• Organ damage, because a tapeworm could transfer to the brain, eyes, heart, lungs, or liver.

Diagnosis of intestinal parasites (protozoa & worms)

• The eggs of the intestinal parasites usually appear in the feces, but we can see them only with a microscope, except for the tapeworm, parts of which could appear.
• The diagnosis is performed by a physical exam, stool sample, blood tests, imaging tests, and sometimes a colonoscopy.

Treatment of intestinal parasites (protozoa & worms)

• Antiparasitic drugs are used to treat this condition.
• You can prevent getting protozoa and worms by practicing good hygiene, washing your hands regularly, not putting your hands in your mouth before making sure that they’re clean, cooking meats properly, and washing raw vegetables and fruits properly before eating.