Types of parasites

Types of gastrointestinal parasites =========================== Gastrointestinal parasite, like other parasites, feeds on the body of another living organism to survive. In fact, parasites are organisms that need a host's body to feed on it and complete their life cycle. These organisms have different species, each of which requires a host. The host can be humans, other animals or even plants. Parasites carry out growth, reproduction and transmission stages in the host's body. The life cycle of parasites has two types, direct and indirect. In the direct life cycle, the parasite is directly transferred from one host to another and does not need an intermediate host. Therefore, these types of parasites can survive in nature and they are called optional parasites. In the indirect life cycle, the parasite spends part of its life stages in the intermediate host and is called an obligate parasite. In this life cycle, the stages of growth and development of the parasite take place in the body of the intermediate host, and this host does not show any disease or symptoms. But the reproduction stage of the adult parasite is done in the body of the final host. In fact, parasitic life is one of the types of symbiosis in which one organism benefits and the other organism suffers. This symbiosis takes place between two different organisms, usually the weaker and smaller organism is called the parasite and lives and feeds on the surface or inside the body of the stronger organism called the host. For this reason, it causes disturbances in the host's body. The symbiosis between the parasite and the host can be temporary or permanent. Gastrointestinal parasites belong to which category of parasites? There are different criteria for classifying parasites. Based on one of these criteria, which is based on the number of hosts, parasites are classified into two categories: single-host parasites and multi-host parasites. Single-host parasites do not need an intermediate host, but multi-host parasites can transfer between different hosts and spend each stage of their life in the body of one of them. The place of growth and multiplication of parasites can also be another criterion for division, which classifies them into two categories of endogenous and exogenous parasites. Ectoparasites are placed on the surface of the body of the living organism and provide the food they need from the host's body, among the most common of these parasites are fleas, head lice, bed bugs, body lice, scabies, bedbugs, demodex, and roundworms. These parasites can be transmitted from one host to another through skin contact, sexual contact, shared clothes and bed, etc. Each of them can cause different symptoms in their host. For example, bed bugs affect the skin and vision, or head lice cause itching and hair loss. Endogenous parasites penetrate into the body of a living organism and enter different organs and tissues of their host, and digestive tract parasites are among these parasites. Endogenous parasites are classified into three categories: protozoan parasites, worms and tapeworms. Types of gastrointestinal parasites Gastrointestinal parasites usually cause many symptoms and disorders in the digestive system. Intestinal worms are considered to be a type of digestive tract parasite that has a relatively high prevalence, and although they occur mostly in children, adults can also be involved in this problem. Among the most common types of parasites in the digestive tract are worms in different forms and protozoa. Gastrointestinal parasitic worms are usually found in the intestine and these intestinal parasitic worms are in the form of tapeworms and tube worms. Pumpkin worms and liver worms are in the category of flatworms, and roundworms, ascaris, roundworms, Trichoris tricura and hookworms are considered as tubeworms. Each of these gastrointestinal parasites can cause various diseases and infections. Pumpkin worm is a parasitic worm of the digestive system Pumpkin worm is one of the broad worms and has different types, each of which enters the body of its respective host. After entering the body, the egg or larva of this parasite is placed in the wall of the stomach and intestine and grows there. After a period of time when it has grown enough, it lays eggs or by dropping a part of its body, it causes the creation of other worms. This parasite prevents some food from reaching the body and as a result causes the body to weaken. If the conditions are not suitable for the larvae of this worm to mature, they will form cysts. Cysts can be transferred to other parts of the body. Pumpkin cream is more harmful for some organs. For example, if its cysts reach the brain, they can lead to death. But in other parts of the body, these cysts reduce their efficiency by depriving the organs of food. Pumpkin worm eggs or larvae enter the body in different ways. The ways of transmitting this digestive system parasite worm to the body can be mentioned by eating lettuce or stale vegetables, unhealthy water, undercooked meats and eating sushi. What is wormwood and what are its side effects? Worm or Oxyor is a digestive tract parasite whose host is only humans, and after entering the human body, it settles in the intestine. This parasitic worm is very small and has a length between 6 and 12 mm. Worms are more common in children and enter the body through contaminated food such as sitting fruits and vegetables or contact with contaminated surfaces. This parasite of the human digestive system can also be transmitted from an infected person to another person. Often these white worms are seen in the feces of the infected person, which have zigzagging movements. The female worms spawn on the skin around the anus and this causes itching in the person. By scratching this area, the eggs of the parasite are placed on the fingers, and when a person touches any device, it becomes infected, and due to the shared use of the device, this parasite is transmitted to others. Worm eggs can survive in air and dust for up to two weeks. Therefore, this gastrointestinal parasite can be spread to others through inhalation. ### Ascaris worm Ascaris worm is a parasite of the gastrointestinal tract, whose hosts are humans and pigs. The location of this worm in the body of its host is inside the intestine. Of course, pig and human Ascaris worms may have similar appearance and structure, but they are different physiologically. Ascaris is a worm from the category of tube-like or roundworms, and after roundworms, it has the highest proportion of pollution in the world. This yellow worm lives in the small intestine. At first, when the host swallows the eggs of this parasite, they enter the stomach, where the larvae hatch and penetrate into the vessels of the intestinal wall. Then they move to the liver, heart, and lungs, and after a few days, the larvae enter the airways and return to the intestine through the trachea, esophagus, and stomach. In the intestine, these worms mature and therefore do not need an intermediate host to complete the life cycle of this digestive tract parasite. When Ascaris larvae pass through the liver, they affect this organ, causing it to become enlarged and painful. In the lungs, this parasite causes respiratory problems, which include dry cough and shortness of breath. But when this worm matures in the intestine, symptoms such as abdominal pain, anorexia and indigestion appear in the person. ### Hooked worm Hookworm is a gastrointestinal parasite that infects millions of people around the world. According to statistics, 500 to 700 million people in the world are infected with this worm every year. This intestinal parasite can be seen in all ages and cause disease to people. Infection with this parasite is one of the most common helminth infections in humans. Hookworm infection is usually observed in humid and tropical climates. One of the types of this worm named C. celestama duahonal is found in southern Europe, North Africa, North Asia and part of South America, and the other type, called Nekitoram ericnus, has been found in Northeastern America. The length of the hookworm is approximately one centimeter and its habitat is the human small intestine. Adult worms usually live in the upper part of the intestine, and each female worm lays 20,000 eggs during the day, which are excreted with the feces. These eggs need shade and moist and warm soil to turn into worms. If such conditions exist for the eggs, after 24 to 48 hours the larvae hatch and live in the soil. If you walk on contaminated soil with bare feet, these worms enter the body through the skin and go to the lungs through the bloodstream. Then, through the mouth, they reach the small intestine, where they mature after 5 weeks. Adult worms in the intestine use the blood of the host and for this reason cause anemia in the person. The hookworm needs soil to complete its life cycle and is transferred to the body of its host through the soil. Therefore, it cannot be transferred from one person to another. This parasite can be treated using drugs such as levamisole, and if a person has anemia, he should use an iron-rich diet or iron supplements. Types of protozoan parasites in the digestive system A protozoan parasite is a single-celled organism that chooses humans as its host. There are different types of this parasite, each of which moves in a different way. Protozoa are divided into four groups, Sarcodina, Mastigophora, Silophora, and Sporozoa, based on this movement difference. Sarcodina move by amoebic movements, Mastigophora by flagella and Silophora by numerous cilia. Adult sporozoa are non-motile. Many types of these parasites can enter the human digestive system and cause disease. In the following, we will examine some of these parasites. ### • Giardia lamblia parasite Giardia parasite is a protozoa and lives in the human intestine. Giardia lamblia parasite causes an infectious disease in the small intestine called giardiasis. This single-celled parasite is usually transmitted by drinking contaminated water. Eating contaminated food is another way of transmitting this parasite. Giardia parasite can also be transmitted from person to person through unprotected anal sex. Therefore, all people who live in places with poor hygiene and do not have access to safe drinking water can be exposed to giardiasis. For this reason, health experts recommend washing hands before eating and drinking, using water and safe and safe food. Giardia parasite has two forms of trophozoite and cyst in its life cycle. Trophozoites are located in the upper part of the small intestine and are in contact with the intestinal mucosa. The cyst is an inactive and resistant form of the parasite that has a hard outer covering and protects it from environmental factors. Therefore, cysts can survive outside the body for a long time. After entering the body, the cyst is destroyed and the parasite starts feeding and growing in the intestine and the active form of the parasite is created. This parasite has a high prevalence and is seen more in tropical regions than in cold regions. Sometimes people with giardiasis do not show any symptoms, but they are carriers of this parasite and can pass it on to others. In many cases, one to three weeks after the parasite enters the body, symptoms and signs of infection become apparent. Among the signs and symptoms of this disease are diarrhea, bloating, abdominal cramps, weight loss and anorexia. In some cases, the absorption of some vitamins such as vitamin A and B12 is disturbed and the person faces a deficiency of these vitamins. ### • Entamoeba histolytica parasite The parasite Entamoeba histolytica or E histolytica is the cause of an intestinal infection called amoebiasis. Amoebiasis is also known as amoebic diarrhea. This infection is more common in tropical regions such as India, parts of Central and South America, and parts of Africa. This parasite is a single cell that is transmitted to its cysts by eating contaminated food and water. Dormant cysts can survive in the environment for several months. When these cysts enter the human body in different ways, they are placed in the digestive system. After this active and invasive form of the parasite, which is called trophozoite, they start growing and multiplying inside the digestive system and enter the large intestine. In the large intestine, this parasite sticks to the wall and causes the destruction of wall cells, bloody diarrhea and colitis. This parasite can live in the intestine without symptoms and does not cause damage to the intestinal tissue, but in some cases, symptoms of infection appear 2 to 6 weeks after infection. In the most severe type of this digestive disease, which is bloody diarrhea, symptoms such as fever, presence of blood in stool and abdominal pain are seen. Sometimes this parasite pierces the intestinal wall and enters other parts of the body through the bloodstream and causes problems there as well. Liver, lung and brain are among the organs that this parasite enters. If trophozoites enter an internal organ, they may cause symptoms such as abscess, infection, severe lethargy and death. ### • Blastocystis hominis parasite Blastocystis hominis is a microscopic organism whose position and class have not been clearly defined, but today many researchers place it in the category of single-celled parasites. This parasite is common between humans and animals and has been seen in the large intestine of humans and many other vertebrates. Blastocystis is one of the most mysterious parasites of the gastrointestinal tract, whose pathogenicity had not been determined for a long time, and it was considered a non-pathogenic organism. But today, by conducting extensive studies and finding out many unknowns, the pathogenicity of this parasite has been determined. Currently, two active and inactive forms are considered for this parasite. Its active form, which is called trophozoite, is located in the lobes of the glands in the epithelial layer of the intestine and over time creates cysts and falls into the intestinal canal. Then these cysts are excreted with feces. Cysts of this parasite are usually seen in the feces of people who have diarrhea or some digestive problems, but they may also be present in the feces of healthy people who do not have any complications or digestive problems. In fact, it can be said that this organism sometimes lives in a person's digestive system and does not cause any symptoms or harmful effects. The trophozoites of this parasite are between 50 and 150 microns in size and have a central body surrounded by several crescent-shaped nuclei. Their cytoplasm is also rich in food vacuoles. The cysts are smaller and 10 to 20 microns in size, they are spherical and have a central body and a crescent nucleus, but no food vacuole is seen in them. Usually, infections of this digestive tract parasite disappear by themselves and do not require drug treatment, but if symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, loss of appetite, fatigue and lethargy, depression, fever and hives appear, a doctor should be consulted so that the necessary treatment can be done as soon as possible. Metronidazole is usually used to treat the infection of this parasite. This drug is prescribed at a dose of 750 mg orally for adults, which is to be used 3 times a day, and the patient must follow this order for 10 days. Sometimes, the second stage of treatment is needed to completely eliminate the infection. In the second stage, the combined treatment of metronidazole and methoprim sulfamethoxazole is used. What are the signs and symptoms of the presence of gastrointestinal parasites in the body? Although some parasites can live in the intestine for years without any symptoms, but in most cases of gastrointestinal parasites, symptoms and signs appear. Parasitic infections may destroy the layers of the intestine and inflame it and cause diarrhea in the infected person. Sometimes, the substances and wastes from the parasites affect the patient's body and make the person suffer from constipation, bloating, and even stomach pain and heartburn. One of the common problems caused by gastrointestinal parasites is pain and discomfort in the abdomen. Parasites that live in the upper part of the small intestine can cause inflammation and burning in that area, which causes severe abdominal pain. Also, these parasites prevent the removal of waste materials from the patient's body, and with this, pain is felt in the abdomen. Abdominal pains are usually associated with various types of intestinal parasites such as tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms or tapeworms. Another symptom of parasites is itching around the anus, which is the main symptom of parasites. Itching is caused by the spawning of parasites in this area, because this action usually takes place at night, the amount of itching is very intense at night, which leads to sleep disorders and restlessness. Fatigue and weakness can also be symptoms of parasites. The types of gastrointestinal parasites that live in the intestine absorb the food consumed by the host and this causes weakness, fatigue and depression in the person. The patient's fatigue can be seen on all physical, mental and emotional levels. Other symptoms of parasites include loss of appetite, weight loss, grinding teeth, anemia and iron deficiency, skin problems, muscle and joint pain. Types of parasite detection methods There are sometimes very clear symptoms to detect the presence of gastrointestinal parasites in the body. For example, the presence of adult worms in a person's feces, which have movement, makes the diagnosis process easy. In this case, you should see a doctor quickly so that treatment methods can be performed as soon as possible. But due to the similarity of most of the symptoms of parasites with other digestive problems, the doctor usually prescribes certain tests to diagnose the disease with more certainty. Stool test is one of the tests that are performed to detect parasites. In this test, parasitic worms and protozoa can be identified. A stool sample should be taken from the patient before taking antidiarrheal drugs and antibiotics. Sometimes the stool test must be repeated several times to get a more accurate result. The presence of parasites is also detected by Scotch glue test. In this test, a strip is placed around the anus several times, and then by examining this glue under a microscope, eggs and worms are identified. If the worm or its eggs are not detected, the doctor prescribes a blood test to detect the presence of intestinal parasites through the detection of antibodies in the infected person's body. If the problems related to parasites become very serious and it is difficult to identify the parasite, the attending physician may recommend X-ray with barium. Although often there is no need to do this test. Different methods of treating parasites In order to treat gastrointestinal parasites both in modern medicine and in traditional medicine, it is necessary to act in a specialized manner. That is, according to the type of parasite, he took the right medicine. Therefore, taking into account the type of parasite, the doctor prescribes a drug with the greatest effect against it. The patient must take the medicine exactly according to the doctor's instructions to have the necessary effect. Otherwise, the medicine will not have an effect. It is possible that the patient only needs to take one dose of medicine or that he must use the medicine for several weeks to be completely cured. Along with the use of specific medicines, changes in the diet should be made with the coordination of the doctor. Observing some nutritional tips may reduce the growth and multiplication of parasites or speed up their elimination. For example, drinking a lot of fluids helps to quickly eliminate the larvae and parasite eggs. Also, excessive consumption of carbohydrates and sugars in patients with parasites is not recommended at all. Including vitamin C in the diet both strengthens the immune system and reduces diarrhea in patients with parasites. This vitamin can be provided either through food such as citrus fruits or by using vitamin C supplement tablets available in the market. Therefore, changing the lifestyle and having a healthy diet can be very effective in the medical treatment of digestive system parasites. Antiparasitic drugs should usually be taken on an empty stomach to be more effective. These drugs are often hot and bitter in taste. If laxatives are used together with anti-parasitic drugs, the effect of the drug increases and the parasite is eliminated faster. Because most of the parasites are contagious, it is recommended that the use of anti-parasitic drugs be done as a family, even those family members who do not have clinical symptoms, it is better to take anti-parasitic drugs for a while. In the treatment of parasites, the use of drugs should be continued even after the disappearance of clinical symptoms, so that the eggs of the parasites are completely eliminated, which is usually three weeks for most parasites. Prevention methods of all kinds of parasites The most important and fundamental point in preventing parasites is strengthening the body's immune system. A strong immune system can resist many diseases and destroy pathogens. To have a strong immune system, you need a healthy diet. For example, the presence of sufficient amounts of vitamin C and zinc in the diet strengthens the immune system. Also, observing many health tips and principles is considered important in the discussion of preventing the infection of all kinds of parasites and can be very effective. The simplest and most effective hygiene tip that is presented with great emphasis is washing hands before eating or preparing food. Continuous and timely washing of hands to avoid many pathogens is frequently recommended by health officials, which shows the importance of the issue. Therefore, one of the ways to prevent gastrointestinal parasites is to practice healthy habits. In general, it can be said that by observing personal hygiene issues and having a strong body and a healthy digestive system, favorable conditions for the growth of parasites are not created in the body, and this prevents them from entering the body. By including fruits and vegetables and fiber foods in your daily diet, you can have a healthy body that has no place for parasites to grow. Eating all types of meat raw should be avoided because raw meat can be one of the factors of transmitting parasites to the body. Therefore, disinfecting all equipment that has been in contact with meat and washing hands after contact with it are among the ways to prevent parasites. Drinking healthy drinking water is also one of the important issues in preventing parasites from entering the body. What are the side effects of gastrointestinal parasite infection? Parasites of the gastrointestinal tract cause malnutrition by reducing appetite or preventing the absorption of food. Over time and with the increase in the number of parasites in the body, the problems caused by them become more and more chronic. In children with chronic parasitic infections, severe weight loss has been observed and these children do not grow normally. These infections may also affect the child's mental development. Heavy infestation with roundworms may lead to intestinal obstruction. Sometimes, intestinal worms, especially hookworms, cause bleeding in the intestine, which causes anemia in a person. Food allergies may also occur in people who have been suffering from parasitic infections for a long time. What are the ways in which gastrointestinal parasites are transmitted to the human body? The parasite may enter the human body by eating the uncooked meat of an infected animal such as cow, pig or fish, and if the conditions are favorable, it can grow and multiply and cause various infections. Drinking contaminated water, contact with contaminated soil, contact with contaminated feces, and non-observance of hygiene issues can be mentioned among other factors that cause the transfer of parasites or its eggs to the body. Different types of parasites enter the body in different ways. For example, roundworms are transmitted to the body by contaminated soil or contaminated feces. These organisms can be easily transmitted from person to person. For this reason, the use of common appliances is not recommended in many cases. Because touching infected places and equipment can also cause parasites to enter the body. Swimming in contaminated water is another way to get parasites. **\*Gastroenterologist in Mashhad\***