Parasites – more common than you might think.

Things to be aware of when throwing yourself into the lake, frolicking in the pool or dancing around at the campsite, if you find yourself coming home with a bad bout of tummy-troubles or other more subtle symptoms its possible you may have an unwelcome passenger on board.  Parasites are not just a tropical vacation hazard, parasites are very common here in the USA too. 

Transmitted in drinking water, lake water and swimming pools, three of the most widespread parasites are Giardia, Blastocystis Hominis, and Cryptosporidium. All three of these parasites are very common in America, and each of them carry different challenges when dealing not only with the infestation of the parasite but also when trying to eradicate it from your system.

Giardia (Giardiasis) is a diarrheal illness caused by a microscopic parasite Giardia intestinalis (aka Giardia lamblia).  Once infected by this parasite it will live in the intestines and get passed out through the stool. This parasite has an outer shell for protection and can live outside the body for long periods as time. Giardia has been characterized as one of the most common causes of waterborne diseases in humans in the United States as it is found in drinking and recreational waters both worldwide and within the US. Some of the symptoms Giardia can cause are diarrhea, gas, greasy or tarry stools that float, stomach cramps, upset stomach and nausea, although many people will not experience all of these symptoms.

No one is immune to this parasite, if you have a child in day care (especially diapered children) be aware of the possibility for ingestion, if the child becomes infected the chances that the child-care employees and the children’s parents will also follow right behind, swimmers who accidently ingest water from any large or small body of water are also at risk as this parasite is transmitted via animal and human fecal matter and can live outside the body for extended periods.

The CDC has more information on Giardia.

The Mayo Clinic has this to say about Blastocystis Hominis “Blastocystis hominis (B. hominis) is a microscopic parasite sometimes found in the stools of people who have diarrhea, abdominal pain or other gastrointestinal signs and symptoms. … The signs and symptoms that might be associated with blastocystosis include: Diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramps, bloating, excessive gas (flatulence), anal itching, and fatigue. Many types of protozoa get into the intestinal tract through oral-fecal contact, such as occurs when a person who doesn’t wash hands thoroughly after using the toilet prepares food. No one knows for certain how B. hominis is transmitted, but experts suspect it’s through oral-fecal contact. Experts do know that the incidence of blastocystosis increases in places with inadequate sanitation and poor personal hygiene. … Blastocystosis is common, and anyone can get the infection. You may be at higher risk if you travel where sanitation is inadequate or where the water may not be safe.”

Although the jury is still out at the Mayo Clinic and the CDC there is plenty of documented evidence that Blastocystis is more of an issue than anyone first realized, although even the CDC is beginning to recognize that this is a possibility.  Personal experiences found posted at Bad Bugs, document how this little parasite has brought many people to their knees, in more ways than one.  It is also a parasite often found in children with autism, my son included.  There are many personal experiences to be found at the Bad Bugs site as well as research about the nasty little bug, including this: “”The clinical consequences of B. hominis infection are mainly diarrhea and abdominal pain as well as nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, anorexia, vomiting, weight loss, lassitude, dizziness, and flatulence. Case reports and series have suggested a pathogenic role of B. hominis in causing intestinal inflammation. Also some studies have suggested that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are associated with B. hominis infection. The investigators indicate that the stools of all patients presenting with IBD or IBS should be examined, and culture methods for B. hominis carried out. Invasion and mucosal inflammation of the intestine with B. hominis have been observed in studies of gnotobiotic guinea pigs.” Blastocystis hominis and bowel diseases. Turkiye Parazitol Derg. 2006;30(1):72-76” 

And finally Cryptosporidium: This is another parasite spread commonly thorugh recreational and drinking water,  and like Giardia its hard shell allows it to live a long time outside of the human body. Try not to accidently swallow water while swimming, see the CDC’s guide to healthy swimming, and certainly do not drink untreated water from shallow wells, lakes, rivers, springs or other recreational water. Avoid ice or drinking water when traveling to other countries where the water supply might be unsafe. If you suspect a parasite you might be experiencing watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, low-grade fever, fever, dehydration and weight loss.  Thankfully intense symptoms usually dissipate about a week after an infection. People with healthy immune systems are usually ill with cryptosporidiosis for several days but rarely more than two weeks. Some infected individuals may not even get sick. Some people with cryptosporidiosis seem to recover, then get worse again and you should be aware you may shed oocysts in the stools for months, even after no longer appearing to be ill.

You can minimize the chances of getting infected with Cryptosporidium (and numerous other pathogens) by always practicing good hygiene, especially after possible exposure to sources of infection. People with compromised immune systems must consistently take precautions to avoid exposure to parasites. Always, always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water (and supervise children’s hand washing) after using the toilet or changing diapers, especially in public restrooms, we use the happy birthday song for kids to ensure the hands are adequately washed for an appropriate amount of time. If its your job to pooper-scoop or clean the litter box, pay close attention to hand washing immediately after those jobs. Take the same precautions after working in dirt or the garden including paying attention to objects such as shoes that may have been contaminated with fecal matter. Always wash your hands prior to food preparation or eating. Avoid ingesting (even accidently) untreated water from lakes, streams, and other surface water bodies. It’s always advisable to carefully rinse and wash any fruits or vegetables because of possible contamination with manure.  Take extra care in selecting food and drink when traveling to places with poor sanitation but follow similar precautions here in America too. Follow any water advisories issued by local health departments, state authorities, or the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you are in a situation where you just have to deal with the water you have treat it before drinking by bringing it to a rolling boil for at least one minute to kill oocysts or remove them with a filter with an absolute pore size of one micron or smaller.

Watery diarrhea is a symptom of many intestinal diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites. If Cryptosporidium, Blastocystis or Giardia is the suspected cause of an intestinal illness, the doctor should request a specific diagnostic test. The diagnostic tests for Crypto and for Giardia are slightly better and more specific than the test available for B. Hominis.  There is currently no drug that can cure cryptosporidiosis or B. Hominis but Flagyl has proved effective with Giardia and a combination of drugs has the potential to work with Blastocystis, however it is notoriously hard to eradicate both the oocytes and bacteria associated with these parasites. If you suspect a parasitic infection seek assistance as soon as possible as the longer this parasite lives in your gut the harder it will be to eradicate it completely. Often in the case of crypto, people with competent immune systems will recover on their own and appear to develop some immunity to subsequent infections. Also remember with the parasites there is often a residual effect of increased bacteria and yeast in the stomach and this has to be addressed in addition to the parasite.  Anti-diarrheal medicines or activated charcoal may ease some of the immediate symptoms. You can treat the parasitic infection with a combination of black walnut, golden seal and cinnamon, available at every good health food store. In addition you can try an anti-fungal prescription to treat the yeast issues, or simply add grapeseed extract to your daily regime. Anyone with diarrhea should drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.

More information is available on these three parasites and other oocytes that you may come into contact with around your recreational activities:

Contact your state or local health department and the water utility serving your area.
Contact the Cooperative Extension office in your county.
Call the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
Call the CDC AIDS Hotline at 1-800-342-AIDS.

For a listing of drinking water treatment units that meet NSF standards, go to the NSF alone.

The Great Plains Laboratory is one of the many labs that can test for yeast, parasites, bacteria and other problems associated with those conditions.

Make an adjustment, Stay Healthy ~ Be Happy: Call Dr. Paul or Dr. Susan at Fontana Chiropractic, Evergreen CO. 303.674.1500 or email office@fontanachiro.com

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