Blastocystis
Hominis and Blastocystosis:
Are You Infected By This Mysterious Intestinal Parasite?
Human intestinal
parasites are known to cause many mysterious symptoms. People with
an intestinal parasite may start out with no symptoms at all, or
they could have mild stomach discomfort. As the intestinal parasite
grows and multiplies, it results in more serious symptoms like abdominal
pain, diarrhea, and weight loss.
One example of
a mysterious intestinal parasite is Blastocystis hominis. Blastocystis
hominis is a microscopic intestinal parasite that can be found all
over the world, including in the United States. Blastocystis hominis
causes an intestinal illness called blastocystosis.
Once thought to
be a yeast organism, Blastocystis hominis is a single-celled parasite
that consumes other microbes in the intestines for food. If you
are infected with Blastocystis hominis, the parasite could remain
in your intestine for weeks, months, or even years without your
knowledge.
How can this be,
you ask? One reason is that the symptoms of blastocystosis are similar
to the symptoms of other common conditions such as stomach viruses,
colitis, and food allergies. This confusion of symptoms sometimes
causes patients and doctors to treat the wrong ailment. In addition,
compared to other intestinal parasites, diagnosis for blastocystosis
is especially difficult. It could take several stool sample tests
to discover the Blastocystis hominis parasite in the body.
Another puzzling
trait of blastocystosis is how it’s transmitted. The scientific
community is not sure how humans become infected with the Blastocystis
hominis parasite, but it’s more common in areas with poor
sanitation and inadequate personal hygiene. Here are some recommendations
believed to help prevent blastocystosis:
- Wash hands thoroughly with
soap and water after using the bathroom and after changing diapers.
- Also wash hands with soap
and water before handling food.
- Wash and peel raw vegetables
and fruits before eating.
- Outside the United States,
avoid un-boiled tap water, uncooked foods, ice cubes, and fruit
juices made with tap water.
- When in high-risk countries,
eat foods that are well-cooked and served hot. (Avoid room-temperature
sauces and buffet offerings.)
- Also when traveling, close
your mouth when showering and use bottled water to brush your
teeth.
Since blastocystosis
is tough to diagnose, many people with blastocystosis symptoms (diarrhea,
nausea, abdominal pain and cramps, anal itching, weight loss, excess
gas, bloating, fatigue) opt for a natural
parasite cleanse. A natural parasite cleanse is a safe alternative,
can be done at regular intervals, and is able to rid the body of
many different types of human parasites.
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