Stomach parasites are a group of individual parasites that infect the stomach and intestinal tract. According to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, these parasites get their nourishment from living hosts. The most common of these parasites infect the host through an oral route, usually by drinking contaminated water. If you suspect that you may have a stomach parasite, you should contact a physician, as intestinal parasite infections can cause severe illness or death.
Giardia
The Giardia parasite lives in the intestine of infected humans or animals. Giardia infections are found throughout the entire world. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that giardia is extremely contagious and is spread by touching fecal material and then touching your mouth. Drinking contaminated water can also cause giardia. Washing your hands regularly and following good hygiene practices is the best way to avoid giardia. Do not drink water unless it comes from a clean source as giardia can cause diarrhea, nausea, and abdomen pain. If you think you may be infected, see a physician.
Cryptosporidium
Cryptosporidium is a well-known parasite and is a major cause of diarrhea. This parasite infects your stomach when you drink water that has fecal matter in it. Commonly, swimming pools and lakes carry this parasite. When water is accidentally ingested, the cryptosporidium uses your body as a host. This parasite causes weight loss, nausea, and abdominal cramping. Testing can differentiate cryptosporidium from other parasites and medication can be administered.
Roundworms
Roundworms live in your intestines and most range in size from 1 millimeter to 1 meter long, but certain types of female worms can grow over 12-inches in length. There are many different kinds of roundworms, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2002, an estimated 1.5 billion people were infected with the common roundworm Ascaris. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that some roundworms are ingested after you touch soil containing roundworm larvae or eggs and then transfer them to your mouth. Roundworms can cause coughing, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. If you see a worm in your vomit or stool, you should contact a doctor for treatment as soon as possible.
Toxoplasma Gondii
Toxoplamsa gondii are parasites that are directly linked to cats because they can only reproduce when a cat is their host. However, they can still infect humans and when they do, they cause toxoplasmosis. Eating undercooked meat that is contaminated with the parasite can result in this disease. More commonly, it is associated with poor hand washing after taking care of a cat's litter box. According to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, toxoplasmosis may produce flu-like symptoms, but in otherwise healthy individuals, the disease is usually mild and goes away without medical treatment. Pregnant women, however, should avoid exposure to cat litter as an unborn child may contract this parasite congenitally, resulting in miscarriage or stillbirth.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Giardiasis Fact Sheet
- MedlinePlus: Cryptosporidium Enteritis
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Roundworms
- United States Department of Agriculture--Food Safety and Inspection Service: Parasites and Foodborne Illness
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Ascaris Infection
