Parasites use other living things, like humans, to get their food and a safe place to dwell. There are three main types of these health “users” that cause disease in humans:
- protozoa ~ single cell
- helminths ~ multi-cell worms
- ectoparasites~ live on, in your skin
Because protozoa can multiply in humans, a serious infection may develop with just one invader. Whereas, adult helminths generally do not.
Parasites can live in human:
- blood
- tissue
- intestines
- lymphatic system
Parasites can also cause your skin to react, resulting in a rash.
Parasites can be transmitted to you via:
There are numerous types of parasites that infect humans causing disease, malaria being one of the most common infections worldwide. Here’s just a short list of some other human parasitic causing diseases, infections and annoyances:
- flukes
- bed bugs
- giardiasis
- pinworms
- tapeworm
- whipworm
- amebiasis
- ascariasis
- hookworm
- trichinosis
- babesiosis
- roundworm
- toxocariasis
- trichomonas
- leishmaniasis
- toxoplasmosis
- onchocerciasis
- echinococcosis
- strongyloidiasis
- Chagas disease
- schistosomiasis
- trypanosomiasis
- cryptosporidiosis
- lymphatic filariasis
- lice, crabs, scabies
Parasites & Health web page, brought to you by the CDC, provides more extensive information about parasites and parasitic diseases.
Symptoms of a parasite infection vary widely depending on which parasite infects you and where you’re infected. Yet, diarrhea and flu-like symptoms are common health complaints for a host of parasitic diseases.
A parasite can cause just mild symptoms or be the cause of your death.
