Hookworms are small parasites that are able to invade through the skin and then spread throughout the body. They are generally contracted via skin contact with feces. As a result, hookworm infestations are less common in the United States because...
Lice infestations are most commonly caused by person to person contact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Head lice nest on the scalp and eggs and lay eggs that attach to the hair shafts. Lice infestation is the second...
Lice--tiny parasitic insects--live on human scalps and feed on blood. Although lice are not dangerous, they do cause extremely itchy bites. They also spread easily, making them inconvenient and annoying. In order to eliminate lice, you need to...
Ticks live in many areas of the world, waiting to drop from trees to bite unsuspecting people and animals. Tick bites are not only annoying and painful, but they can also cause inflammation, secondary infections or transmit microorganisms capable...
Hundreds of human parasites exist and can affect any area on the human body. Parasitic infection occurs in any age group, but young children are most susceptible because of risky hand-to-mouth behaviors. A parasite is an organism living on or in...
Bedbugs hide in bed all day, but wake up at night to bite sleeping humans, usually on the face, neck, arms and hands, according to MayoClinic.com. About the size of an apple seed, these red-brown bugs cause itchy red spots on the skin, often with...
Lyme disease is carried by infected ticks. The ticks are infected with the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, or other species of Borrelia. Typically, the tick that carries this infection is the deer tick (Ixodes dammini), but a 2007 report by Vice...
Intestinal worms are parasites, deriving their nutrition from the human gut. Three types of worms can infest the human intestine: roundworms, tapeworms and flukes. The various species within these groups can live in different parts of the...
Hookworm infestation happens when worms are swallowed through normal eating and drinking. They travel through the digestive system and into the small intestine, where they mature into adults. There are largely no symptoms until complications...
Scabies infestation, caused by the Sarcoptic scabiei mite, is characterized by intense, nocturnal itching. Infestation occurs when the scabies mite burrows into the skin and lays eggs. The hatching process causes intense itching. The burrowing...
Parasitic worms are a significant cause of infectious disease worldwide, especially in developing nations without adequate sanitation facilities. Many of these worms inhabit the intestines, feeding off the nutrients and blood supply found there....
More and more residences are facing bed bug infestations, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that bed bugs have not been shown to transmit infectious diseases to humans,...
Lice are tiny parasitic insects that feed on human blood. Three different species of these wingless insects infest the human head, body and pubic region. Lice cannot fly or hop. They spread from person to person through close contact. Lice...
Roundworms, also known as nematodes, are a common cause of human parasitic infestations worldwide. Pinworms are the only common roundworm infestation in the U.S. Other roundworms including hookworms, threadworms, whipworms, Ascaris and Trichinella...
Skin eruptions may occur anywhere on your body, including your scalp. Bumps on your scalp that look and feel similar to pimples and zits can be unrelated to the acne that appears on other areas of your face or body. While certain home treatments...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children between the ages of 3 and 11 get infected by head lice 6 to 12 million times yearly in the United States. Although chemical treatments are available, in certain situations...
Bedbugs are small insects that feed on blood. They are brown or red in color (following a meal), round and approximately a 1/4-inch long. Bedbugs cause infestations in mattresses and other furniture where they hide. Though commonly associated with...
Lice are very small parasites that use humans as hosts. These wingless insects feed on very small amounts of blood. Although there are several types of lice, children primarily suffer from head lice or body lice. Lice commonly infest children ages...
Parasites are organisms that live and feed either in or on host organisms. Children can catch a variety of parasitic infections, including pinworms, giardiasis, roundworms and hookworms. Parasites typically affect the health of infested children....
Head lice, which are also referred to as pediculosis, are tiny parasites. Their source of nourishment is human blood, and they commonly make themselves at home in human hair when they are close enough to crawl into it. You can get head lice if you...
Parents are often ashamed when their children are sent home from school because of a lice infestation. But the infestations are actually quite common and are not a sign of poor hygiene, according to the National Institutes of Health. Lice--small...
Bedbugs are best described as small, parasitic insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals. They most commonly hide in the seams, cracks and crevices of mattresses, box springs, bed frames and headboards, but they may also take refuge in...
Fish oil is a popular supplement that some health practitioners recommend for cardiovascular health, brain development and maintenance, and for its general anti-inflammatory properties. As much as fish oil supplements have a role in helping to...
Intestinal parasites and worms spend at least a part of their life cycles in the gastrointestinal tracts of host organisms. Intestinal parasites common in the U.S. include roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms and Giardia, a type of protozoa. Several...
Pests can be a nuisance in your home and garden. Outdoor pests include deer, groundhogs and plant-eating insects. Cockroaches and rodents rank high on the list of dreaded indoor pests. Before you reach for a can of poison or insecticide as a quick...
Severe itching and rashes are indicative of a body lice infestation. These parasitic insects live on bedding and clothing, only settling on human skin to feed on blood. Understanding the characteristics of body lice may help people recognize an...
Garlic is a common component of the herbal remedy armamentarium, which is often used for the non-pharmaceutical treatment of certain illnesses. While there's some evidence to suggest that garlic is also effective against parasites, scabies mites...
The female scabies mite, Sarcoptes scabiei, tunnels under the skin of infested children and adults, causing intense itching and rash. A global public health problem, scabies are transmitted through contact with infested skin or linens. Because...
While there are many causes of indoor air pollution, three types are receiving increasing scientific scrutiny: Secondhand smoke, toxic mold infestations, and air fresheners. But there are measures you can take to protect yourself.
Ascariasis is caused by the Ascaris lumbricoides worm, which lives in the intestine. Learn how to treat ascariasis in this video.
Lice are tiny, wingless, parasitic insects that feed on your blood. Lice spread easily through close personal contact and by sharing belongings. Learn about the different treatments for lice in this medical video.
