Intestinal parasites are organisms that invade human intestines and obtain nourishment from the body's nutrients. Intestinal parasites are transmitted to humans through ingestion of contaminated foods such as salad, undercooked meat and water. Intestinal parasites includes giardia, cryptosporidium, pinworms, roundworms, tapeworms and hookworms. Patients with intestinal parasites caused by eating contaminated salad might experience several symptoms.
Gastrointestinal Symptoms
Gastrointestinal disturbances are very common in patients with intestinal parasites. Patients experience symptoms such as abdominal pain, swollen abdomen, constipation, loss of appetite, inflammation of the colon, diarrhea, gas, bloating, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, anal itching, bloody stool and passing worms in stool. Patients with intestinal worms often experience malnutrition and weight loss because intestinal parasites feed on the body's supply of nutrients.
Other Symptoms
Intestinal parasites can travel up to the lungs and cause symptoms such as coughing, blood-stained sputum and lung congestion. Patients might also experience symptoms such as chest pain, runny nose, joint pain, skin sores, fever and itching, weakness, fatigue, headache, dizziness, muscle pain, irritability and restlessness in children, memory loss and mental problems.
Serious Symptoms
Intestinal parasites can cause serious symptoms such as anemia, malnutrition, breathing problems, intestinal obstruction, stunted growth and cognitive development in children, intestinal ulceration, bleeding and perforation of stomach, peritonitis and enlarged body organs. Intestinal parasites can also block blood flow to body organs, which can cause organ damage.
Treatment
Treatment for intestinal parasites depends on the type of parasites found in the body. Protozoa such as giardia are treated using an antibiotic called metronidazole. Intestinal worms are treated using mebendazole, albendazole and pyrantel pamoate. Patients receiving treatment for intestinal parasites are also advised to sanitize personal belongings.
