Parasites: The World’s Most Undiagnosed Infection

What is a Parasite?

According to the CDC, “a parasite is an organism that lives on or in a host organism and gets its food from or at the expense of its host. There are three main classes of parasites that can cause disease in humans: protozoa, helminths, and ectoparasites.”

For billions of years, parasites and their hosts have been competing with each other. The first strains of bacteria were parasitized by the first strains of viruses. When multicellular life began to form, microbes colonized them. So, parasites have continued to evolve into a collection of diverse and various forms that are crucial in the circle of life, however; in today’s age, parasites are a root cause of disease that is often overlooked.

Every aspect of the human body holds a defense mechanism to fight off invaders like parasites. Our largest defense is our skin which provides a barricade for the millions of microbes that occupy the surface. Our eyes contain and release tears by using a flushing system when attacked by intruders. Our ears are populated with hairs to keep out invaders. Our mouth contains enzymes that break down microbes. Our nose has a process for shielding pathogens from penetrating the body. If these intruders invade the body and pass these systems, our niche organs initiate their own defense systems. For example, our stomach holds hydrochloric acid (HCL) that diminishes pathogens and protects the gut from microscopic invaders. If our body does not have sufficient HCL, the risk of getting a bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection is at a higher risk.

With such advanced biological processes you would expect humans to come out victorious most of the time and be unbothered by parasites. Unfortunately that is false. Parasites are extremely complex beings with highly intelligent skill sets that are exponentially more advanced than previously thought. A parasite’s goal is to live a life undetected by the immune system and medical testing… and most of the time they succeed.

Are Parasites Common?

Parasites are not only found in underdeveloped countries that may not have access to clean water or hygienic products, but they are also extremely common in developed countries such as the United States. We just simply do not connect the dots that our symptoms may be linked to a parasitic infection.

Parasites are not obvious, their intention is to be hidden. Parasites do not quickly kill their prey, they subtly and slowly change their hosts behavior and biological patterns that cause, later enormous implications.

For example, liver flukes (a type of parasite), are known for causing gallbladder/liver problems, elevated/reduced liver enzymes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and bile duct cancer. According to the CDC, an untreated liver fluke infection “may persist for up to 25–30 years, the lifespan of the parasite. In infections that last a long time, an enlarged liver and malnutrition may occur. In areas where liver flukes are found and a person may have multiple long-standing untreated liver fluke infections, the inflammation of the gallbladder and ducts caused by the parasite has been associated with liver and bile duct cancers.”

Another example of a threatening parasite is T. gondii. This intracellular parasite is known to cause Toxoplasmosis and is commonly transmitted from household cats to humans. According to a 2012 study, “at least a third of the world's human population are infected with the parasite, making it one of the most successful parasitic infections. Primary maternal infection may cause health-threatening sequelae for the foetus, or even cause death in the uterus.” Although this parasite typically remains asymptomatic to most people, it can be a severe threat to immunocompromised people and pregnant women.

Ever hear the saying, “pregnant women should stay away from litter boxes?” This is why!

In severe cases of Toxoplasmosis, schizophrenia, mood disorders, seizures, nervous system disorders, and general flu-like symptoms may occur.

Why Aren’t Parasites Diagnosed Often?

Attempting to catch a parasitic infection via stool testing and colonoscopies is ineffective for some cases. However, both procedures/tests may be beneficial to do. It is not necessary to have a positive parasite stool analysis to have an active parasitic infection.

Colonoscopies do not often catch parasites because they examine only the colon and the lowest part of the small intestine (known as the ileum). So, the camera does not see most of the 20 feet of our intestines. While parasites are commonly found in the colon, this is not the only place they hide. They are found in the lungs, skin, eyes, joints, brain, liver/gallbladder, and intestines. They are especially sneaky in our intestinal tract as it is 30 feet long. And, parasites are oftentimes the reason for gallbladder removals and appendicitis too!

Stool tests do not often show a complete version of your gastrointestinal tract. Again, a parasite’s goal is to stay hidden within the body. Stool testing for parasites can produce false-negative results.

Slowly but surely, parasites are becoming recognized as a root cause for chronic illnesses. Now, parasites are coming to the forefront of chronic illnesses and are being considered to be much more entangled in chronic illnesses than previously thought.

For example, According UNICEF, “about 1.5 billion people have roundworms, making it the third most common human infection in the world. Whipworm infects 1 billion people… More than 1.3 billion people carry hookworm in their gut, and 265 million people are infected with schistosomes.” And, this is only the detectable cases. Again, most parasitic infections sneak around being caught in medical testing.

Ways to Check for Parasites:

Examine Bloodwork: elevated eosinophils, low ferritin/iron, etc.
Symptom Analysis
Biofeedback / Muscle Testing

Causes of Parasitic Infections:

Contaminated Water
Animals
Human-to-Human Contact
Factory Farmed Meats / Undercooked or Raw Meat
Fresh Foods
Travel

Types of Parasites:

Protozoa: The CDC describes Protozoa as “microscopic, one-celled organisms that can be free-living or parasitic in nature. They are able to multiply in humans, which contributes to their survival and also permits serious infections to develop from just a single organism. Transmission of protozoa typically occurs through a fecal-oral route (for example, contaminated food or water or person-to-person contact).

The most common protozoa are giardia and cryptosporidium. Unfortunately, it is challenging to guard ourselves from protozoan parasites that exist in our environments because they produce cysts and biofilms. A biofilm has brick-like, resistant walls that enclose and shelter the protozoan parasite (this occurs in other parasitic, bacterial, and viral infections as well). This makes the parasite able to survive various environmental conditions, such as changes in temperature, lack of water, extreme acids, and killing agents. This means that once a protozoan parasite cyst/biofilm develops, it can linger for a long time and wait for the perfect chance to open and wreak havoc on the body.

Biofilms can also make testing inaccurate due to the shell it creates over the parasite. It acts as a protective shield to lab tests.

Helminths: The CDC describes helminths as “large, multicellular organisms that are generally visible to the naked eye in their adult stages.” There are three main groups of helminths infect humans: flatworms – these include the trematodes (flukes) and cestodes (tapeworms), acanthocephalans (spiny-headed worms), pinworms, hookworms, and nematodes (roundworms). The adult forms of these worms can stay in the gastrointestinal tract, blood, lymphatic system or tissues. And, the larvae can cause disease through their infection of certain body tissues. A common example of a helminth infection is large roundworm (known as Ascaris lumbricoides). According to the CDC, “an estimated 807 million–1.2 billion people in the world are infected with Ascaris lumbricoides.” This is approximately 14.3% of the human population!

Transmission of helminths includes contaminated water or soil, poor sanitation, and human-to-human contact. Helminths are typically visible to the eye. Even if an individual does not see a physical worm in their stool, that does not mean that they do not live within their body. These parasites try their hardest to stay in the body. Due to their ruthless nature, they will attach themselves to the nooks and crannies in any organ, tissue, or muscle in the body. They have the potential to create debilitating symptoms that leave people feeling extremely ill.

For example, hookworm is a parasite that is common within the United States. This can lead to anemia, lack of vitamin/mineral absorption, GI tract issues, and fatigue.

Another example of a helminth invasion is a pinworm infection. Pinworm infections are easily picked up through contact with contaminated food, water, and human contact. Pinworms can also be quickly transmitted to people through bathtubs, toilets and bed sheets. This parasite can produce more than 10,000 eggs and is common in children. Perianal itching is the most common and diagnosable symptom, but other symptoms such as: GI tract issues, behavioral changes, insomnia, vaginal irritation/UTIs, hyperactivity, and even epilepsy have been related to this infection.

According to the CDC, “the most common clinical manifestation of a pinworm infection is an itchy anal region. When the infection is heavy, there can be a secondary bacterial infection due to the irritation and scratching of the anal area. Often the patient will complain of teeth grinding, and insomnia due to disturbed sleep, or even abdominal pain or appendicitis. Infection of the female genital tract has been well reported.”

To end the helminth discussion, click here to read our article on threadworm (strongyloides) to learn about another common helminth in the United States!

Ectoparasites: The CDC describes Ectoparasites as “blood-sucking arthropods such as mosquitoes (because they are dependent on a blood meal from a human host for their survival)… This term is generally used more narrowly to refer to organisms such as ticks, fleas, lice, and mites that attach or burrow into the skin.”

Instead of living within the host, ectoparasites feed on the surface of the host. For example, ticks attack the skin barrier to attack their victim. An example of a dangerous ectoparasite is a deer tick. This organism directly causes Lyme disease and Lyme co-infections (babesia, bartonella, rickettsia, ehrlichia, mycoplasma, etc.).

Click here to check out our article on Lyme Disease here!

Our Ancestors vs. Us:

Why are parasites more important to learn about now than ever before? Well, our lifestyle nowadays is much different than our ancestors. Today, humans are more prone to becoming severely infected with parasites due to an overload of heavy metals, pollutants, decreased holistic/natural care of the body, new bacterial/viral strains, processed foods, toxic chemicals, and radiation. Even though we are more technologically advanced now, we are more susceptible to parasitic and stealth infections.

Our ancestors frequently parasite cleansed. They purged themselves by inducing vomiting and diarrhea, eating specific herbs and foods to kill microbes, and cleansing during the full moon. They knew that humans, like animals, have parasites.

The differences between our ancestors and us:

Our ancestors lived connected to nature. They woke up when the sun rose & fell asleep when the sun set. This kept their hormones balanced due to the natural exposure of light and it allowed their immune systems to continue regenerating. There was never a lack of vitamin D3. A vitamin D3 deficiency is associated with increased autoimmunity as well as an increased susceptibility to infection.
Our ancestors were not exposed to EMFs or extreme amounts of radiation. Now, we experience this on a daily basis. EMFs allow mold and parasites to multiply exponentially. Radiation dramatically lowers our immune responses, making us more susceptible to parasitic infections.
Our ancestors did not have pharmaceutical medications. While pharmaceutical medications are lifesaving, they are overused. Repeated use of pharmaceuticals creates superbugs. According to the Mayo Clinic, “drug resistance is a naturally occurring phenomenon that can be slowed, but not stopped. Over time, germs such as bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi adapt to the drugs that are designed to kill them and change to ensure their survival. This makes previously standard treatments for some infections less effective, and sometimes ineffective.” According to a 2016 study, “in 2015, antibiotic-resistant pathogens were estimated to cause over 50,000 deaths a year in Europe and the USA. The toll is projected to rise to 10 million deaths per year worldwide by 2050.” Our ancestors did not have antibiotics to disrupt and alter gut bacteria. This is often the cause of gastritis, the beginning stages of autoimmune diseases, and the gateway for parasites to invade the body.
Our ancestors did not have factory-farm pharmaceuticals and toxic pesticides that actively deplete soil quality. Today, this prohibits us from eating nutrient dense foods that help fight off invaders such as: bacteria, viruses, and parasites..
Our ancestors did not ingest processed foods and toxic chemicals. As a species, we ingest more processed foods than whole foods which is creating an epidemic of hormonal imbalances, severe gastrointestinal issues, and autoimmune diseases. These foods and chemicals lower the immune system functions, making us more susceptible to stealth infections.
Our ancestors did not experience pollution and extreme environmental toxins. Pollutants can invade the body through air, foods, beverages, and products used on the skin/hair. This can create heavy metal toxicities and mold - both of which parasites feed off of.
Lastly, our ancestors parasite cleansed!

With that being said, there are countless differences between our ancestors and us. Our immune systems' have more to fight off and guard. The levels of pathogens and toxins are much higher now which directly correlates with the level of chronic illnesses on the rise.

Parasites & Chronic Illnesses/Autoimmune Diseases:

According to a 2018 study, “nearly half (approximately 45%, or 133 million) of all Americans suffer from at least one chronic disease.” This number is now estimated to be 157 million people with 81 million having multiple conditions.

Parasites are often a missing puzzle piece to solving a person’s chronic illness battle. The symptoms overlap with labeled diseases/disorders such as: fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Symptoms of a Parasitic Infection:

Gut Issues (food sensitivities, IBS, abdominal pain, constipation/diarrhea, unexplained nausea)
Insomnia / Grinding Teeth when Sleeping (bruxism)
Anal Itching
Acne / Psoriasis / Inflammation of the Skin
Sugar Cravings / Increased Hunger
Fatigue / Flu-like Symptoms
Muscle & Joint Pain
Heart Palpitations / Chest Pain
Iron-deficiency Anemia
Brain Fog
Anxiety / Depression
Unexplained Weight Gain / Difficulty Losing Weight
Worsening Symptoms During the Full Moon

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.

Please reach out if you are interested in taking your health back! You can give our office a call at (816) 889-9801.

References:

https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/about.html

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5680167/#:~:text=Irritable%20bowel%20syndrome%20(IBS)%20is%20a%20functional%20gastrointestinal%20disorder%20of,to%20be%20linked%20to%20IBS

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/infectious-diseases/expert-answers/superbugs/faq-20129283#:~:text=Superbugs%20are%20strains%20of%20bacteria,tract%20infections%20and%20skin%20infections

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/13590849009003131

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5876976/

https://nationalhealthcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/AboutChronicDisease.pdf
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/13590849009003131

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra032492

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5520446/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8325/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8282/