Parasites are tiny and almost invisible, but they hide many dangers and can be a vector for diseases that can affect humans, from diarrhea to encephalitis, which can lead to death.

Diseases caused by parasites, there are actually many diseases , including various abnormal symptoms that may be caused by having parasites in the body, which many people may not know what parasites are, where they are transmitted, and what diseases they can transmit. So, read on to gain knowledge.

What is a parasite?

 Parasite is a species of living things on this planet, but cannot live alone. They must live in the body of another living thing (Host) to survive. Parasites can be divided into the following main types:

1. Parasites that live in the intestines of humans or animals.

          Such as Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Entamoeba, Microsporidia, Isospora and parasites such as pork tapeworm, roundworm, whipworm, etc.

         These parasites are contaminated with human and animal feces, which may spread through soil and water sources. If people eat unwashed raw vegetables or drink unfiltered water, these parasites will enter the body and cause various diseases to the host.

2. Parasites that reside outside the body

           Ectoparasites such as ticks, lice, fleas, dust mites, and scabies are usually found on the skin, hair of humans, and fur of animals such as dogs, cats, and rabbits. They are transmitted to humans through touching, holding, hugging, or contact with infected animals, which causes itching in the area where the parasite is attached. In the โปรโมชั่น ufabet case of ticks, there will be swelling, redness, and a large circular rash. However, these parasites also contain germs, which can cause inflammation and be a trigger for other complications.

3. Amoeba protozoa

          For example, Naegleria and Acanthamoeba are free-living amoebas, meaning they can live on their own in natural habitats such as ponds and canals. However, if they enter the human body, they will live as hosts and cause disease to us.

           However, diseases caused by parasites depend on the type of parasite, where the parasite lives, and how the parasite enters the body, which will have different severity of symptoms.

How can parasites be transmitted?

 Diseases caused by parasites can be transmitted in many ways, with the most common being:

• Eating or drinking contaminated food or water, especially raw food, fresh vegetables, and unwashed fresh fruits and vegetables, drinking unfiltered water from natural sources, and eating undercooked food. 
• Skin infections from contact with contaminated soil or water, such as walking barefoot on soil or on areas with parasites, playing in unclean natural water sources, or touching unclean water splashed during Songkran, etc.
• Bites by mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, lice that live in animals such as dogs, cats, rabbits, pigs, cows, etc.
• Contact with animals or people that harbor parasites, such as ticks, lice, fleas, bedbugs, which can jump into the human body and live there.
• Falling into puddles, mud, or ponds with unclean water and choking on water through the nose

What are the symptoms of diseases caused by parasites ?

          Common symptoms of diseases caused by parasites include frequent hunger, bloating, flatulence, frequent diarrhea, eating a lot but not gaining weight, or skin symptoms such as raised bumps, swelling, redness, itchy rashes in areas bitten by parasites such as ticks, dust mites, lice.  However, the symptoms of parasitic diseases depend on the type of parasite, the source, and the method of infection. For example, amoebas can cause inflammation of the meninges, while some protozoa are the vectors of malaria.

What are the diseases caused by parasites?

           There are many diseases caused by parasites, but the most common ones include:

1. Amoebic dysentery or amoebic dysentery

 Caused by the amoeba Entamoeba, which when entering the body lives in the large intestine, causing diarrhea and ulcers in the large intestine. It can also infiltrate the bloodstream, causing dysentery in the liver, lungs, or brain.

2. Giardia lamblia infection

 The bacteria will enter the small intestine, causing symptoms of bloating, stomach tightness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, watery or fatty stools. If the diarrhea is chronic, there is a risk of malnutrition.

3. Liver fluke disease

      It is a parasite that is commonly found in Southeast Asia. It is usually transmitted through eating undercooked food, especially freshwater fish such as carp, minnows, and silver barb. When the parasite enters the body, it grows into an adult in the bile ducts in the liver.

          The symptoms of this disease depend on the number of parasites in the body. If there are not many parasites, the symptoms will not be obvious. However, if there are many liver flukes, symptoms will include yellowing of the body, indigestion, and enlarged liver, etc.

4. Roundworm disease

Another disease that is commonly found in Thailand is because this type of parasite is often hidden in soil, water sources, and damp areas. It will enter the human body through consuming contaminated food and water. Most of the time, there are no obvious symptoms, but fever, diarrhea, or complications may occur if the larvae burrow into various organs, such as the lungs, intestines, or liver.

5. Lung fluke

 Lung fluke disease or paragonimosis is caused by infection from eating raw freshwater crabs such as paddy field crabs, waterfall crabs, and mountain crabs that have contagious stages of the parasite. The parasite will become an adult and live in the lungs of humans. Symptoms of lung fluke disease are similar to tuberculosis, such as dry cough, chest pain, bloody sputum, and bronchitis.

6. Pinworm disease

 People usually get this parasite from eating freshwater fish, shrimp, and eels that are eaten undercooked. The larvae of the pinworm burrow through the tissue beneath the skin, which appears as raised marks. They move to different parts of the body and often travel to the central nervous system and eyes, affecting the brain or even causing blindness.

7. Tapeworm

          Tapeworms commonly found in Thailand are beef tapeworm and pork tapeworm, which are acquired by eating undercooked meat containing worm larvae (similar to sago grains), especially in dishes such as larvae salad, beef salad, koi, naem, and sa nuea. When the worms enter the body, the larvae develop into adults in the small intestine of humans, causing frequent hunger, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting.

8. Malaria

   Malaria, or jungle fever – chills, is a contagious disease caused by the parasite Plasmodium, which is transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes. Symptoms of this disease include high fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite. If the symptoms are severe, there may be anemia, fatigue, difficulty breathing, convulsions, unconsciousness, and death.

9. Elephantiasis

Another infectious disease that is transmitted by mosquitoes, by bringing a parasite called filarial roundworms to cause disease in the human lymphatic system, causing lymphatic blockage, swelling in the legs, arms, or genitals.

10. Trichinosis

 The cause of this disease is the roundworm Trichinella spiralis, which is commonly found in wild carnivores such as wild boars and rodents such as rats and squirrels. People become infected by eating raw or undercooked meat containing the parasite larvae. The parasite larvae live in the intestines, causing diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. The larvae then gradually burrow into and lodge themselves in various muscles, causing muscle pain, fever, difficulty swallowing, difficulty speaking, difficulty breathing, and in some cases, severe complications that can be fatal.

11. Lice

 Lice are parasitic insects that live in various parts of the human body, especially on the scalp. They can be transmitted from person to person if they are in close proximity. People who are infected with lice will have itching in the area where the lice live. If not treated promptly, inflammation may follow.

12. Loan

           Lice are another type of lice that live on the genitals, attaching themselves to the hairs and sucking blood in the pubic or groin areas, causing itchy genitals and bumps. They can be spread from person to person through sexual intercourse and by sharing personal items. Treatment involves shaving off all the hair in the area where the lice live.

13. Microsporidia corneal infection

Caused by the eyes coming into contact with water contaminated with Microsporidial Keratitis, such as washing your face with water from a tank or tap water contaminated with germs, or coming into contact with rainwater or muddy water contaminated with germs, resulting in an infection of the cornea or conjunctiva, causing eye pain, redness, photosensitivity, and tearing. If you wear contact lenses or have had a previous eye wound, the symptoms may become more severe.

14. Anisakiasis

           People who like to eat raw fish are at risk of this disease because the anisakis parasite is found in sea fish such as cod, salmon, herring, swordfish, and Indian mackerel. If you eat raw fish that has parasite larvae, you will experience stomach pain in the epigastric region, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and gastric bleeding or bloody stools. Sometimes, it may be mistaken for a stomach ulcer. Therefore, an endoscopy is required to find the parasite larvae in the stomach.

15. Amoebic meningitis

  Or known as brain-eating amoeba, caused by Naegleria fowleri amoeba that lives in water and enters the body through the nose from choking on water, diving, causing severe and acute meningitis. It can also be caused by infection with Acanthamoeba that enters the body through various wounds on the skin, including the cornea and conjunctiva. Once it enters the bloodstream, it will go to the brain, resulting in acute meningitis.

Diseases caused by parasites: how to treat them

 Treatment for diseases caused by parasites mostly depends on the type of parasite that is contracted and the individual’s symptoms, which may include medication to eliminate worms or other methods as deemed appropriate by the doctor.

How to prevent diseases caused by parasites

 Here are some simple ways we can protect ourselves from parasite-borne diseases:

• Eat cooked food, both meat and vegetables. 
• Drink clean water. If you are unsure about water filtration, drink boiled water. 
• Wash your hands frequently, especially before eating. 
• Defecate in a sanitary bathroom.
• Avoid walking barefoot on grass or other ground. 
• If there are wounds on the body, avoid contact with natural water sources or mud puddles.
• Avoid contact with sick people or animals, including wild animals.
• Do not share personal items such as towels, blankets, drinking glasses, and always clean personal items.
• Maintain hygiene in yourself and around your home.