Giardiasis, also called a giardia infection, is caused by a parasite that invades the intestinal tract. The giardia intestinalis parasite is spread by drinking contaminated water or from close contact with the feces of an infected person or...
A parasitic infection in the colon usually is the result of contact with feces containing parasites. In some cases, food or water can be contaminated with feces, or the parasites may be present in the soil, according to the University of Maryland...
Infections of the microscopic Giardia parasites, also known as Giardia duodenalis or Giardia lamblia, usually clear up in two to six weeks on their own. However, repeated infections or infections in people with compromised immune systems can have...
Giardiasis is the infection caused by the parasite Giardia. Giardia intestinalis, as its full name connotes, inhabits the small intestines and steals from the nutrients destined for its host. The organism is present in the human body in two forms,...
Three main types of parasites--protozoa, helminths and extoparasites--cause illness and disease in humans. Protozoa, tiny one-celled organisms, live and multiply in the human intestine and bloodstream. Helminths are parasitic worms that reside in...
Numerous conditions and infectious agents can cause stomach or abdominal aches and pains. According to MedlinePlus, a website published by the National Institutes of Health, most causes of stomach aches and pains are not life-threatening. However,...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drinking water in the United States is among the safest in the world. But the World Health Organization has reported 20 percent of the world population has no safe access to drinking...
Notifiable diseases are infectious diseases that must be reported to government officials by law. These diseases can be caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi and protozoa. The notifiable diseases list in the United States is managed by the...
Sixty percent of your body weight is water, according to MayoClinic.com. Your body requires continual replenishment of its water supply to stay healthy and to survive. Consuming 64 oz. of water per day generally is sufficient, but the water you...
Human parasites live in or on our bodies and take their nourishment from us. By definition, parasites cannot live on their own--they use us as their hosts. A variety of insects, worms and single-celled organisms cause parasitic infections.
Parasites that infect humans are as old as antiquity. As a matter of fact, calcified parasitic eggs of schistosomes have been found in Egyptian mummies from as far back as 1200 B.C. In the United States human parasites are not a major issue...
Protozoa are one-celled organisms that can cause diseases ranging in severity from mild to deadly. These organisms can be classified as parasitic or free-living. Parasitic protozoa are found in organisms such as ticks, flies and mosquitoes....
