Parasitic Infections

Latest Edit: Hector 2013-11-27 (EDT)

Parasites are a diverse group of organisms ranging from microscopic ameoba, to metres long helminths. A parasite is defined as an organism that lives in or on a host, and feeds at the expense of the host. Parasitic infections are more common in tropical and subtropical regions, and are responsible for serious morbidity and mortality. Normally considered the most important parasitic disease, it is estimated that malaria is responsible for over 1 million deaths each year.

Parasitic Infections

Parasitic Infection
Causes	Food, Air, Water, Soil, Medical Settings
See Also	Infections, Respiratory Conditions, Digestive Conditions, Urinary Conditions, Musculoskeletal Conditions
Books	Books on Infections, Allergies, Intolerances
Articles	Articles on Infections / Allergies / Sensitivities

Naturopathic Assessment

Any infection depends on two factors: personal susceptibility and exposure to a pathogen. The naturopathic assessment looks at both aspects. The stronger a person's vitality the less likely they will be affected by exposure to parasites or other pathogens.

Sources

The sources of infectious parasites include:

• Food

• Water

Diagnostic Testing

Many parasitic diseases can be diagnosed based on clinical symptoms and physical exam. The following diagnostic testing may be done to confirm the presence of a parasite and guide treatment.

• Laboratory Testing including:

• Microscopic or macroscopic examination of specimens collected, including fecal or blood smears are commonly used.
• Immunodiagnostic tests for antibodies and antigens to evaluate for Plasmodium spp, Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidum spp., Entameoba histolytica, and Trichomonas vaginalis are available.

Characteristics

Common Symptoms

The symptoms of parasitic infection are as diverse as the organisms that cause them. The following is a list of common symptoms associated with parasitic infection:

• Itchiness
• Rash
• Digestive disturbance
• Sleep disturbance
• Anemia
• Vision Abnormalities
• Fever
• Diarrhea

Common Parasite-Associated Conditions

Parasitic Diseases by Parasite

The following is a list of common and/or important parasitic infections. This list is not exhaustive.

Protozoal Infection

Organism	Condition	Clinical Presentation
Leishmania	Leishmaniasis	Cutaneous ulceration, fever, enlarged liver and/or spleen
Trypanasoma	African Sleeping Sickness and Chagas	Fever, lymphadenopathy, meningoencphalitis, congestive heart problems
Giardia	Giardiasis	Noninflammatory diarrhea with malabsorption (steatorrhea)
Trichomonas	Trichomoniasis (STI)	Vaginitis, urethritis
Entamoeba	Amebiasis	Diarrhea, colitis, liver abscess
Babesia	Babesiosis	Fever, malaise, hemolytic anemia
Cryptosporidium	Cryptosporidiosis	Non-inflammatory diarrhea, can be severe in individuals with AIDS
Toxoplasma	Toxoplasmosis	Fever, lymphadenopathy, congenital abnormalities, encephalitis, pneumonitis
Plasmodium spp	Malaria	Paroxysmal fever, chills, enlarged liver and/or spleen, headache

Table adapted from Mandell: Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases 7th ed

Helminthic Infection

Organism	Condition	Clinical Presentation
Ascaris lumbricoides (roundworm)	Ascariasis	Diarrhea, fever, nausea, vomiting, slower growth, stomach ache, cough, breathing difficulty
Trichuris trichuria (whipworm)	Trichuriasis	Can be asymptomatic, or cause painful stools, rectal prolapse, anemia
Ancylostoma duodenale	Hookworm	Most individuals are asymptomatic, but may develop anemia, digestive disturbances, protein loss
Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm)	Enterobiasis	Commonly affects children and causes itchy anal region, disturbed sleep
Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi	Filariasis	Can cause lymphedema and elphantiasis leading to permanent disability
Onchocerca volvulus	River Blindness	Dermatitis, lymphadenitis, ocular lesions and progressive blindness
Schistosoma spp	Schistosomiasis, bilharzia	Rash, abdominal pain, enlarged liver, blood in stool and urine, increase risk of bladder cancer
Fasciola hepatica (liver fluke)	Fascioliasis	Initially nausea, vomiting, fever, rash, chronically can cause bile duct impairment, and liver and gallbladder isues
Taenia saginata, Taenia solium, Dipylidium	Beef tapeworm, pork tapeworm, cat/dog tapeworm	Generally mild, but can cause weight loss, loss of appetite, abdominal pain

Table adapted from Mandell: Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases 7th ed and CDC online

Ectoparasitic Infections

Organism	Condition	Clinical Presentation
Pediculus humanus corporis and capitis	Head and body lice	Itching, irritability, and sleep disturbance
Phthirus pubis	Crab (pubic) louse	Itching and secondary sores
Sarcoptes scabiei	Scabies	Itching and skin rash
C. felis, C. canis	Cat and Dog fleas	Causes itching and irritation
Pulex irritans	Human flea	Causes itching and irritation

Table adapted from Mandell: Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases 7th ed and CDC online

Treatment

The goal of naturopathic treatment is to support and work in tandem with the healing power of the body and to address the causal factors of disease with individual treatment strategies. The treatment for parasitic infections follow the same principles as all infections. The specific type of infection, i.e., whether it is acute or chronic and what physiological system is affected dictates the specific treatment strategy. Only those treatment specific to parasites are included in this section. For a full listing of treatment options refer to the section on infections.

It is always advisable to work with a naturopathic doctor before engaging in any treatment plan.

• Treating a parasitic infection can take at least 3 months, due to the life-cycle of parasites. The symptoms may resolve much quicker, but it is important to stick with any treatment plan for at least 90 days.

• Dietary Recommendations

• Eliminate sugar and refined carbohydrates as parasites live on these simple sugars.
• When the gastrointestional systems are prominent it may be beneficial to do a supervised three-day water fast to provide the digestive system with a physiological break.

• Herbs with antiparasitic properties include Barberry (Berberis vulgaris), Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia), Euphorbia (Euphorbia officinarum), Garlic (Allium sativum), Pau d'Arco (Tabebuia avellanedae), Propolis, Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia), Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)

References

Reviewed by Iva Lloyd, BScH, RPE, ND [1]