Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
Intestinal parasites include worms and one-celled organisms that rely on human hosts (their guts in particular) to hatch, grow and thrive. They spread when an unsuspecting host unknowingly ingests their microscopic eggs. Antiparasitic medicines and antibiotics can clear most infections.
Most intestinal worm infections cause mild illness and can be treated with medication. Read on to learn more about intestinal worms, including signs, symptoms, and treatment.
The only way to diagnose intestinal worm parasites is to see eggs, larvae, or adult worms in the stool or collect eggs from the perineum in the case of pinworms. The fecal (stool) exam, also called an ova and parasite test, detects the presence of intestinal worms and other gut parasites.
Giardia infection is an intestinal infection marked by stomach cramps, bloating, nausea and bouts of watery diarrhea. Giardia infection is caused by a microscopic parasite that is found worldwide, especially in areas with poor sanitation and unsafe water.
Pinworm infection is the most common type of intestinal worm infection in the United States and one of the most common worldwide. Pinworms are thin and white, measuring about 1/4 to 1/2 inch (about 6 to 13 millimeters) in length. An adult pinworm generally is 1/4 to 1/2 inch (about 6 to 13 millimeters) in length.
Stay away from others if you have a parasite to prevent the spread. Parasites need a host to survive and spread. There are three main types, and their symptoms vary.
Parasitic infections often cause intestinal illness, with symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting. But they can also give you itchy skin rashes or infect other parts of your body, like your brain or lungs.