|  | Conditions Treatments | Illness

Signs of Intestinal Parasites

Few things can give people the creeps as quickly as the thought of a tiny creature living inside them. Yet parasites affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide. While more common in developing nations, parasites can also strike people in industrialized areas. Not all parasites have symptoms--some can live for years inside a host without any obvious signs of their presence. When symptoms are present, they almost always involve some degree of intestinal discomfort. However, many symptoms of a parasite can be signs of other conditions.

  1. Stomach Pain

    • Stomach pain is a prominent feature of most parasitic infections. The parasite generally lives in the intestine, leading to a host of gastrointestinal problems. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are all common during parasitic infections.

    Other Symptoms

    • Loss of appetite, bowel movements that smell unusually bad and fever are also signs of a parasite. Some hosts may also notice mucous in their stool. Longer-term, a parasite can cause malnutrition, bowel obstruction and intestinal bleeding. Dehydration is also possible if there is constant vomiting or diarrhea.

    Weight Loss

    • In many cases, a parasite can lead to weight loss. This symptom often seems mysterious, as the patients may experience it even while eating their normal diet or more and doing nothing in particular that would normally lead to weight loss. Some patients may lose up to 20 percent of their body weight due to the parasite. However, it is not a recommended weight management strategy.

    Fatigue

    • Parasites can often cause their host to feel fatigue or exhausted. The parasite lives off nutrients in the host, and when the host is deprived of those nutrients, he can feel weakened, lethargic and extremely tired.

    Treatment

    • Parasites are treatable. There are many possible treatments for a parasite, from natural remedies to prescription drugs. Some of the prescription drugs can briefly worsen the symptoms as they work to kill the parasite. Treatment will depend on the type of parasite, which can be diagnosed through stool or blood tests.

Illness - Related Articles