Strongyloides, also known as the threadworm, is a microscopic parasitic intestinal worm that currently infects between 30-100 million people worldwide. This number is even greater than the number of people infected with Malaria, and yet Strongyloides is virtually unknown to the average person. It is estimated that up to 6% of Americans have Strongyloides, and that number may be even higher, as testing methods are generally inaccurate. This is because detectable larvae do not show up in stool until they have gone through a full lifecycle, which takes at least one month.
Strongyloides primarily enters the body through exposed skin, such as walking outside on contaminated soil with bare feet. This parasite can inhabit dogs, cats, primates, and humans, with evidence of person-to-person transmission in some cases.
How Do You Get Strongyloides?
Unlike other parasites that require a constant host for their lifecycle, Strongyloides has the capacity to transform and alternate between living as a parasite inside of a host, and existing as a free-living organism in soil. It can also complete its entire lifecycle and reproduce inside of the host's body. Because of their capacity for host autoinfection, Strongyloides is one of the most difficult parasitic infections to treat and can persist for decades if not properly addressed.
Symptoms of a Strongyloides infection:
- Affect digestion
- Lung damage
- Impact on the lymphatic system
- Skin irritation
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Dry Coughing
This infection can impact nearly every organ of the body over time. Initially, there may be no symptoms, but as the infection persists, many people will experience swollen lymph nodes and develop a skin rash near their butt on the back of the thighs. Once it has burrowed through the skin, the infective larvae travel through the bloodstream, into the lungs. This is when the wheezing and dry coughing symptoms begin. From here, they are coughed up into the throat and swallowed, bringing them into the digestive tract. Common symptoms at this stage include digestive upset like intermittent diarrhea and constipation, vomiting, abdominal pain, foul smelling gas, heartburn, bloating, and food allergies. Rectal itching is common, especially at night.
Are You Susceptible?
Sometimes, Strongyloides can become a "disseminated infection" and make their way into other organs and tissues, causing problems in the liver and bile ducts, kidneys, pancreas, gallbladder, trachea, and sinuses. Strongyloides can affect the joints, causing arthritis, as well as the brain and nervous system, triggering seizures and chronic headaches.
Most people have strong enough immune systems to neutralize Strongyloides larvae when they attempt to enter the body. However, increased risk factors for an infection to proliferate include taking corticosteroids, any steroids for immunosuppressive means, having conditions like leukemia or lymphoma, or having a high toxic body burden.
Testing Options
Conventional testing methods include microscopic stool samples and blood antibody tests. Both of these methods are not perfectly accurate.
A functional medicine approach takes into account clinical history of Strongyloides-associated symptoms in tandem with blood chemistry values, like elevated eosinophils, low B6, and low Alkaline Phosphatase.
Pharmaceutical treatment for Strongyloides includes Ivermectin and Albendazole. While these treatments can be effective, they also carry dangerous side effects.
Support Your Body Through Detox
In my clinic, I prefer to use natural nutritional supplements and herbal preparations to support the body whenever possible. Para3 by CellCore is a potent anti-parasitic herbal blend tincture that is effective against helminths (worms). I have also used Morinda by Supreme Nutrition against Strongyloides.
It is important to have the proper toxin binders on hand to make sure you do not experience unpleasant die-off symptoms when you begin killing these unwanted house guests.
If you believe you are dealing with chronic illness, please contact a functional provider. Dr. Jaban Moore, a functional medicine provider, can help you if you are experiencing chronic symptoms.