General Questions, Parasites

[fullmergavin]

Roughly ten years ago, some crazy lady wrote a book about parasites and evidently convinced a great many that single celled parasites and worms were at the heart of "All disease," etc. I believe she was arrested thereafter for practicing medicine without a license, so one would hope that might tell us something. Unfortunately, she seems to maintain a cult like following to the day comprised of these lunatics that are taking 40 different herbal formulas and probably halfway doing themselves in, in the process.

If one can restrict this fanatical viewpoint from the debate, however, is it a fair question in medicine to ask what type of role some of these things might have in the context of GI related health?

Of course, we're all amateurs that write you folks and ask these questions. That said, when a person like me goes through the Merck's and looks at all of the different symptoms and complications relating to critters like the sheep flukes, roundworms, tapeworms, and those similar in nature to Giardia and Toxoplasmosis, one would almost have to admit that, in the eyes of an amateur, at least, I'd probably be lying if I didn't admit that sometimes you get the idea that this area might not be a little interesting at a smaller scale.

I know that it's fairly unlikely that all of the questions have been answered in this area,so I know there are probably not too many givens in any of this. Here would be my questions, however-

#1)If a person actually might have had a parasitic infection along the lines of Giardiasis at some point in their lifetime, or even something along the lines of an intestinal fluke, would the infection most likely clear over due time, regardless of whether or not prescription medication had ever been prescribed? In other words, if John Doe contracts this or that parasite at the age of 10, could the thing actually still exist inside 40 years down the road?
#2)Some of the newer studies seem to connect certain fungal infections with parasites. Is this an accepted principal in medicine, or does the concept remain to be a fairly big gray area?
#3)When/if a person has ever had a cyst or something along the lines of a polyp, would that be indicative of a past or present parasitic infection?
#4)Perhaps the strangest question that you've ever been given-Would it be possible for a parasitic organism to actually "Hide" in the bile or pancreatic ducts?
#5)Is it true that beyond those symptoms relating to the GI disturbances, some have gone onto develop photosensitivity as a result of this or that parasitic infection?
#6)Isn't some of the hype with this stuff a bit overated these days?

I've probably come across as the biggest moron there could ever be by asking these types of questions. I can only assure you that I'm not a Hypochondriac, just like to read too much~. Thanks so much for your time, attention. Take care.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

To answer your questions:
1) It would depend on the type of parasite.  In the case of giardiasis, only patients who are symptommatic require medication.  Those who are asymptommatic can be observed without medication.

2) I am not aware of a clear connection between fungal infections and parasites.  Although I may be wrong, to my knowledge, they are mutually exclusive.

3) I am not aware of a connection between parasite infections and colon polyps.

4) It may be possible for a parasitic organism to be within the bile or pancreatic ducts.

5) Although I am not aware of specific cases, it may be possible that a paracytic infection can lead to photosensitivity.

6) Many of hype and advertisements promoting yeast, fungal infections and parasites causing a variety of GI complaints are without proof of evidence.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
http://www.straightfromthedoc.com

[sarikate]

I can tell you that I contracted giardia and Entamoebae histolytica in Africa five years ago and, despite treatment and now "no sign" of them, have one of the worst cases of refractory diarrhea my docs have ever seen.  Who knows if the parasites could have been to blame, or whether they really are still hanging around?

Yes, parasites can hide around in places like your bile ducts.  When they took out my gallbladder (had lots of stones and was symptomatic), they scoured the thing to see if there were any parasites in there causing my diarrhea.  There weren't any...but it was a possibility.

Interesting questions you post, I'd be interested to hear the answers too.

[yoshi]

yes,they could live inside our body for many years,dont forget they reproduce,so if the parent dies of old age,the offsprings live on.
Back in the old days,people will use garlic,ginger and scallions etc as attempts to kill these organism.
Also,since they are living organism,they live and breathe,and their excrement is toxic.

[fullmergavin]

That's interesting, Sarakote. As a person that has been through a confirmed case of one of these infections, I would hope that you would be willing to tell everyone on here that you did not experience any stark personality changes as a result of the infection?!

I found a website a while back that seemed to focus on this area that also maintained several different web boards. At first, I found it pretty interesting. Within a couple of days however, let me just say that I could never express in words the degree of madness that one could observe among those that just dwelled and dwelled on this parasite stuff. It was like a cult following, no joke. I've never witnessed anything like it in my life- a specific area of medicine interlinked with some sort of a cult like following.

I quickly figured out it was the scientologists that were behind all of the propaganda. These people are off their rockers, and I would argue, they're dangerous people. They've managed to convince 40 year old housewives to zap themselves in the *** with some electrical device they claim will cure parasitic infections that nobody knows a darn thing about. Others are taking unheard of quantities of different herbal formulas, all the while none of these crazy people have even bothered to have a stool culture run in order to determine if they're even infected or not.

To use something like garlic or ginger that might be in line with some type of degree of personal success in history, that's fine, normal behavior. But these people are way beyond that. They've convinced themselves that parasites control human behavior and that the smurf family is living underneath the ground of the Denver airport. I'm not joking about that either.

Complete insanity, with some sort of a cult like following, all coming from those lunatics like Tom Cruise. And they've got one website in particular that's actively engaged in brainwashing manipulations that seem to go against our own government, even. I don't understand why the FBI or one of the agencies haven't taken a good, hard look at these fanatics. They're basket cases that are dangerous from my judgement-the mindset is, at least.

Our doctors take a lot of heat these days from those in alternative medicine, no doubt about it. But the next time any of you side with alternative medicine, just remember to look at the source, and the facts. And in some cases, reality itself, you know.

Sorry for turning this into a blog, Doc~.  

[yoshi]

not every thing shows up in stool sample.
and test(s) dont look for everything and not everything is recognised by western doctors.
For centuries,Chinese will migrate to south east asia to work,many are  married and have family back home.
While they are overseas in places like Sumatra,Malaya ,they will marry a local woman and have a family.
Then one day when they have saved enough money to leave for good,they lied and said they will be back after say 6-12 months.
Eventually local wives get fed up and go see local doctor?witch doctor or shaman.
They are giving the eggs of insects whch burry into the flesh of corpse,mix them into the food of their hubby ,depending on how long he said he will be gone,the dosage vary.
So,when hubby is home celebrating homecoming with his family,the grubs start hatching from the eggs inside his body and work their way into his organs and he starts to run a high fever.
Modern doctors have no clue what happens,either local remedy or western antibiotics can kill the grubs until he returned to his local wife and beg for a cure.

[fullmergavin]

Case in point, Doc.