BalanceSeptember2016 - 42
The BODY
snatchers
Parasites are not pleasant to think
about. But they're surprisingly
common and can be at the root of
many health problems... Could you
be hosting an unwelcome guest?
Words by CA S SANDRA B A RNS
Y
ou're probably all
aware that parasites
are organisms that
live in or on another organism.
You'll have heard of tapeworms,
which can be caught from
eating raw or undercooked
meat that's contaminated. But
there are lots of other types, too.
They include various types
of worms (helminths), which
range in size from just a few
millimetres to several metres,
and protozoa, which are
microscopic, single-celled
parasites. They often live in the
gut, but some of the smaller
ones can also enter the blood
and cause problems in other
areas of the body.
If you're freaked out by the
thought of having a parasite,
bear in mind that some of them
may actually have benefits for
your health, similar to many of
the bacteria that live in our gut.
However, the ones we're
talking about here are associated
with negative effects. These
include upsetting the balance
of beneficial flora in the gut,
causing irritation and damage to
the gut lining, and reducing our
absorption of nutrients.
If you suspect you have one,
it should be treated. Better out
than in, as they say!
42
S OM E COMMO N PA R A S I TE S... and how you get them
T HR EA DWO RM S
TAPEWORMS
Also known
as pinworms,
they're common
in children, who
often pick them
up at school.
Yuck: Despite
sounding horrible,
and causing an
itchy bum, these
are relatively
easy to discover
and treat with
over-the-counter
prescriptions,
which the whole
family need to take
at the same time.
The best way to
prevent them is
through a strict
hygiene routine
- especially regular
and thorough
hand washing.
This type of
flatworm can live
in the gut and
grow to several
metres in size.
Yuck: Tapeworms
are the most likely
to come to mind
- and make us
cringe - when we
think of parasites.
Commonly
picked up from
undercooked
pork, beef or fish,
they can also be
caught from food
prepared by an
infected person
who hasn't washed
their hands, and
from veg grown in
soil contaminated
by faeces of
infected animals.
GIARDIA
LAMBLIA
Very common
single-celled
parasite, picked
up from drinking
contaminated
water or eating
fruit or vegetables
that have been
washed in it, or
swimming in
water that's
contaminated.
Yuck: You'll
probably pick up
this little critter
in areas where
sanitation is poor.
Although our
immune system
can get rid of it
without any help,
sometimes it can
hang around and
cause problems.
BALANCE September 2016
AMOEBAS
Ranging in size,
this parasite is
often picked up
when travelling
further afield.
Yuck: They may
have pretty
names (such as
Dientamoeba fragilis
and Entamoeba
histolytica), but their
effects are nasty!
Short-term
symptoms include
diarrhoea, stomach
pain, vomiting and
lack of appetite,
but they can lead
to inflammation
in the bowel (colitis)
and can affect the
liver over time.
Amoebas can be
picked up in the
same way as giardia.
BLASTO CYSTI S
H O MINI S
While this is
a common,
single-celled
parasite, it isn't
always considered
harmful, so it may
not be tested for,
or diagnosed by
your doctor.
Yuck: This gut
bug could be the
'hidden' cause of
your IBS symptoms,
such as bloating,
wind, cramps
and diarrhoea.
Blastocystis can
be transmitted
via contaminated
food or water, or
via contact with an
infected person
- especially
when travelling.
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