THE NEMATODES (ROUNDWORMS)
"These are what most people think of when it comes to human parasites. They are the pinworms, the whipworms, and the hookworms. They are of course bigger than the one-celled protozoa, but they are all round and small and can cause a staggering amount of damage. It is a big misconception that we actually eat worms to become infected – we actually ingest the microscopic eggs which then hatch in our bodies."
https://humaworm.com/parasitetypes.html
PINWORMS – Most reports were made in North America, some but very few reports in Europe. Some of the side effects could be hazardous, such as anus, digestive problems, irritability, insomnia, even permanent damage in the muscle regions. Their favorite place to live in the human body is the colon, and they lay their eggs in the anus area. The adults are white and can grow to 1 - 1 ½ inches long. The eggs are so small they can fly airborne and are able to live without host for less than 2 days. They are also transmitted by the hand, mouth, and inhaling, mainly by not washing your hands. Small children have the highest rates of getting the worm. The the microscopic eggs are easily left for another child to put into their mouth or inhale, especially dangerous in daycare or preschool settings.
HOOKWORMS – The scientific name for them are “Necator Americanus”, it literally means "The American Murderer". They come from contaminated food and water. The eggs hatch in the intestines then migrate to the lungs through the bloodstream where they are coughed up and swallowed. They then travel back to the small intestine to reproduce. In the lungs they can cause horrible illnesses . While in the intestines, they attach themselves onto the intestinal walls of the body then eat and drink your blood everyday causing internal bleeding, insomnia, tissue rupture, even death. In much worse cases anemia. Dog and Cat Hookworms can penetrate the human skin and stay there causing skin infections, rashes and edema. Itching and a rash at the site of where skin touched soil or sand is usually the first sign of infection. These symptoms occur when the larvae penetrate the skin. While a light infection may cause no symptoms, heavy infection can cause anemia, abdominal pain, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Heavy, chronic infections can cause stunted growth and mental development.
WHIPWORMS – Can attach themselves to the intestinal wall where they inject their digestive fluid into the tissue which then turns into a liquid. They then suck up this liquid. This causes anemia, bloody stools, lower abdominal pain, weight loss and nausea. Each female can lay 10,000 eggs per day and each adult can live for several years. When the eggs are passed out through your feces (unseen) they are able to live for three weeks without a host. If you touch an object (public shopping cart, salt shaker, doorknob, etc.) that has an egg on it, then put your finger in your mouth – you are infected.
ASCARIS - is a round worm that lives in the small intestine. Adult female worms can grow to over 12 inches in length - adult males are smaller. Ascariasis is the most common human worm infection - children are infected more often than adults. Most people have no symptoms that are noticeable, but infection in children may cause slower growth and slower weight gain. If you are heavily infected, you may have abdominal pain. Sometimes, while the immature worms migrate through the lungs, you may cough and have difficulty breathing. If you have a very heavy worm infection, your intestines may become blocked. You may cough up an ascaris larvae or pass an adult worm in your stool. Ascaris eggs are found in human feces. After feces contaminates the soil, the eggs become infectious after a few weeks. Infection occurs when a person accidentally ingests (swallows) infectious microscopic Ascaris eggs. Once in the stomach, immature worms hatch from the eggs. The larvae are carried through the lungs and then to the throat where they are swallowed. Once swallowed, they reach the intestines and develop into adult worms. Adult female worms lay eggs that are then passed in feces; this cycle will take between 2-3 months.
BAYLISASCARIS - this roundworm infects raccoons and other animals including humans. The eggs can live in the soil for YEARS. Humans become infected when they accidentally ingest the microscopic eggs from water, soil or other objects. The eggs hatch into larvae which travel through the body affecting organs and muscles. The symptoms - which can take a week or more to show - include nausea, fatigue, liver enlargement, loss of coordination and loss of muscle control. Severe cases can cause blindness and coma.
SCHISTOSOMIASIS - this infection comes from contaminated fresh water. Days after infection, itchy skin or a rash develops - after 1-2 months, fever, chills, cough and muscle aches set in. The body reacts to the eggs produced by these worms, not the worms themselves. The eggs can be found in the brain, spinal cord and can cause seizures, spinal cord inflammation and paralysis. The parasite can damage the liver, intestines, lungs and bladder.
STRONGYLOIDES STERCORALIS – this is the most unusual of all of the parasites known to man. They can live with or without a host. The females can reproduce without a male. They infect the skin, then the eggs migrate to the lungs where once hatched, they are coughed up and swallowed by the host. They travel just under the skin until they grow too big. They then settle into the small intestine where they mature and reproduce and the cycle starts all over again.
THE TREMATODES (FLUKES)
The flukes are the hardest parasites to get rid of as they can stay in the human body for 10-20 years with each adult fluke living for one year. Flukes come from raw fish, undercooked water plants (such as watercress) and are also carried by dogs, cats and other fish-eating animals. They are also found in beef, chicken, pork and unwashed vegetables.
LIVER FLUKES- infect billary ducts and gall bladders. They start out as small white flattish worms - wider on one end and more narrow on the other. The young adults are various shades of pink while the older adults are bright red to almost black in color. The longer they live in the liver - the darker in color they become because the blood from the liver stains their skin
LUNG FLUKES – are found in the lungs and are sometimes mistaken for lung cancer on x-rays. They cause cough, blood tinged mucous, and vague chest pains.
BLOOD FLUKES - travel all over the human body and into all organs including the brain and spinal cord. They can cause seizures and they destroy red blood cells.
BOTFLY LARVA - Not a worm, but needs to be heard about. Adult female Bot Flies attacks a mosquito attaching the eggs onto it, then lets it go. The mosquito then goes on to the rest of it's day and drinks blood. When taking blood from a host the body heats up and the glue melts, allowing the eggs to fall onto the new host. The eggs hatch and they burrow their way into the skin. They leave a little hole opening to breathe
THE CESTODES (TAPEWORMS)
Most tapeworms are ½ inch long and are a grayish white color, but there are some species that can grow to 33 feet long and can lay over 1 million eggs per day. Tapeworm bodies are mostly reproductive organs. Their head hooks into the intestinal wall, the length of their bodies is made up of sections that are nothing but ovaries and testes for reproduction and their “tails” release these eggs. These eggs hatch into larvae that can migrate to other parts of the human body and can form cysts. Even if the sections are broken off, the tapeworm can regenerate itself from only it’s head. Some tapeworms can live for over 25 years.
PORK TAPEWORMS - are carried by undercooked pork or by the anus-hand-mouth route. They can incubate in the human body for up to 30 years before reproducing. They can affect the eyes and the brain. The infection is called CYSTICERCOSIS. When the cysticerci are found in the brain, the condition is called neurocysticercosis. Once inside the body, the tapeworm egg hatches, penetrates the intestine, travels through the bloodstream and may develop into cysticerci in the muscles, brain or eyes. Signs and symptoms of infection will depend on how many there are and where in the body they are located. You may feel lumps in the muscles, under the skin. They may float in the eyes causing blurry or disturbed vision. They can also cause swelling of the eyes. In the brain, they cause headaches and seizures - they also cause confusion, lack of attention, balance difficulties and swelling of the brain (hydrocephalus). Heavy infections can cause sudden death.
FISH TAPEWORM – this is the largest of the species, it can grow to 33 feet in length. It causes anemia, water retention and weight gain as it makes the host uncontrollably hungry.
DOG TAPEWORMS – are passed along to us from cats and dogs through petting and grooming. It is called DIPYLIDIUM CANINUM - it is found throughout the world. The adult tapeworm is made up of many small segments - the tapeworm itself can measure 4-28 inches long - each segment is about the size of a grain of rice. As the adult tapeworms matures inside the intestines, these segments break off and pass in the stool (the segments look like grains of rice or corn kernals or peanuts - are hard and are a white/slightly yellowish color). These segments are about 2mm long and are what contains the tapeworm eggs.
Alveolar Echinococcosis - AE disease results from being infected with the larval stage of Echinococcus multilocularis, a microscopic tapeworm (1-4 millimeters) found in foxes, coyotes, dogs, and cats. Although human cases are rare, infection in humans causes parasitic tumors to form in the liver, and, less commonly, the lungs, brain, and other organs. If left untreated, infection with AE can be fatal. AE is caused by tumor-like or cyst-like tapeworm larvae growing in the body. AE usually involves the liver, but can spread to other organs of the body. Because the cysts are slow-growing, infection with AE may not produce any symptoms for many years. Pain or discomfort in the upper abdominal region, weakness, and weight loss may occur as a result of the growing cysts. Symptoms may mimic those of liver cancer and cirrhosis of the liver.
"These are what most people think of when it comes to human parasites. They are the pinworms, the whipworms, and the hookworms. They are of course bigger than the one-celled protozoa, but they are all round and small and can cause a staggering amount of damage. It is a big misconception that we actually eat worms to become infected – we actually ingest the microscopic eggs which then hatch in our bodies."
https://humaworm.com/parasitetypes.html
PINWORMS – Most reports were made in North America, some but very few reports in Europe. Some of the side effects could be hazardous, such as anus, digestive problems, irritability, insomnia, even permanent damage in the muscle regions. Their favorite place to live in the human body is the colon, and they lay their eggs in the anus area. The adults are white and can grow to 1 - 1 ½ inches long. The eggs are so small they can fly airborne and are able to live without host for less than 2 days. They are also transmitted by the hand, mouth, and inhaling, mainly by not washing your hands. Small children have the highest rates of getting the worm. The the microscopic eggs are easily left for another child to put into their mouth or inhale, especially dangerous in daycare or preschool settings.
HOOKWORMS – The scientific name for them are “Necator Americanus”, it literally means "The American Murderer". They come from contaminated food and water. The eggs hatch in the intestines then migrate to the lungs through the bloodstream where they are coughed up and swallowed. They then travel back to the small intestine to reproduce. In the lungs they can cause horrible illnesses . While in the intestines, they attach themselves onto the intestinal walls of the body then eat and drink your blood everyday causing internal bleeding, insomnia, tissue rupture, even death. In much worse cases anemia. Dog and Cat Hookworms can penetrate the human skin and stay there causing skin infections, rashes and edema. Itching and a rash at the site of where skin touched soil or sand is usually the first sign of infection. These symptoms occur when the larvae penetrate the skin. While a light infection may cause no symptoms, heavy infection can cause anemia, abdominal pain, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Heavy, chronic infections can cause stunted growth and mental development.
WHIPWORMS – Can attach themselves to the intestinal wall where they inject their digestive fluid into the tissue which then turns into a liquid. They then suck up this liquid. This causes anemia, bloody stools, lower abdominal pain, weight loss and nausea. Each female can lay 10,000 eggs per day and each adult can live for several years. When the eggs are passed out through your feces (unseen) they are able to live for three weeks without a host. If you touch an object (public shopping cart, salt shaker, doorknob, etc.) that has an egg on it, then put your finger in your mouth – you are infected.
ASCARIS - is a round worm that lives in the small intestine. Adult female worms can grow to over 12 inches in length - adult males are smaller. Ascariasis is the most common human worm infection - children are infected more often than adults. Most people have no symptoms that are noticeable, but infection in children may cause slower growth and slower weight gain. If you are heavily infected, you may have abdominal pain. Sometimes, while the immature worms migrate through the lungs, you may cough and have difficulty breathing. If you have a very heavy worm infection, your intestines may become blocked. You may cough up an ascaris larvae or pass an adult worm in your stool. Ascaris eggs are found in human feces. After feces contaminates the soil, the eggs become infectious after a few weeks. Infection occurs when a person accidentally ingests (swallows) infectious microscopic Ascaris eggs. Once in the stomach, immature worms hatch from the eggs. The larvae are carried through the lungs and then to the throat where they are swallowed. Once swallowed, they reach the intestines and develop into adult worms. Adult female worms lay eggs that are then passed in feces; this cycle will take between 2-3 months.
BAYLISASCARIS - this roundworm infects raccoons and other animals including humans. The eggs can live in the soil for YEARS. Humans become infected when they accidentally ingest the microscopic eggs from water, soil or other objects. The eggs hatch into larvae which travel through the body affecting organs and muscles. The symptoms - which can take a week or more to show - include nausea, fatigue, liver enlargement, loss of coordination and loss of muscle control. Severe cases can cause blindness and coma.
SCHISTOSOMIASIS - this infection comes from contaminated fresh water. Days after infection, itchy skin or a rash develops - after 1-2 months, fever, chills, cough and muscle aches set in. The body reacts to the eggs produced by these worms, not the worms themselves. The eggs can be found in the brain, spinal cord and can cause seizures, spinal cord inflammation and paralysis. The parasite can damage the liver, intestines, lungs and bladder.
STRONGYLOIDES STERCORALIS – this is the most unusual of all of the parasites known to man. They can live with or without a host. The females can reproduce without a male. They infect the skin, then the eggs migrate to the lungs where once hatched, they are coughed up and swallowed by the host. They travel just under the skin until they grow too big. They then settle into the small intestine where they mature and reproduce and the cycle starts all over again.
THE TREMATODES (FLUKES)
The flukes are the hardest parasites to get rid of as they can stay in the human body for 10-20 years with each adult fluke living for one year. Flukes come from raw fish, undercooked water plants (such as watercress) and are also carried by dogs, cats and other fish-eating animals. They are also found in beef, chicken, pork and unwashed vegetables.
LIVER FLUKES- infect billary ducts and gall bladders. They start out as small white flattish worms - wider on one end and more narrow on the other. The young adults are various shades of pink while the older adults are bright red to almost black in color. The longer they live in the liver - the darker in color they become because the blood from the liver stains their skin
LUNG FLUKES – are found in the lungs and are sometimes mistaken for lung cancer on x-rays. They cause cough, blood tinged mucous, and vague chest pains.
BLOOD FLUKES - travel all over the human body and into all organs including the brain and spinal cord. They can cause seizures and they destroy red blood cells.
BOTFLY LARVA - Not a worm, but needs to be heard about. Adult female Bot Flies attacks a mosquito attaching the eggs onto it, then lets it go. The mosquito then goes on to the rest of it's day and drinks blood. When taking blood from a host the body heats up and the glue melts, allowing the eggs to fall onto the new host. The eggs hatch and they burrow their way into the skin. They leave a little hole opening to breathe
THE CESTODES (TAPEWORMS)
Most tapeworms are ½ inch long and are a grayish white color, but there are some species that can grow to 33 feet long and can lay over 1 million eggs per day. Tapeworm bodies are mostly reproductive organs. Their head hooks into the intestinal wall, the length of their bodies is made up of sections that are nothing but ovaries and testes for reproduction and their “tails” release these eggs. These eggs hatch into larvae that can migrate to other parts of the human body and can form cysts. Even if the sections are broken off, the tapeworm can regenerate itself from only it’s head. Some tapeworms can live for over 25 years.
PORK TAPEWORMS - are carried by undercooked pork or by the anus-hand-mouth route. They can incubate in the human body for up to 30 years before reproducing. They can affect the eyes and the brain. The infection is called CYSTICERCOSIS. When the cysticerci are found in the brain, the condition is called neurocysticercosis. Once inside the body, the tapeworm egg hatches, penetrates the intestine, travels through the bloodstream and may develop into cysticerci in the muscles, brain or eyes. Signs and symptoms of infection will depend on how many there are and where in the body they are located. You may feel lumps in the muscles, under the skin. They may float in the eyes causing blurry or disturbed vision. They can also cause swelling of the eyes. In the brain, they cause headaches and seizures - they also cause confusion, lack of attention, balance difficulties and swelling of the brain (hydrocephalus). Heavy infections can cause sudden death.
FISH TAPEWORM – this is the largest of the species, it can grow to 33 feet in length. It causes anemia, water retention and weight gain as it makes the host uncontrollably hungry.
DOG TAPEWORMS – are passed along to us from cats and dogs through petting and grooming. It is called DIPYLIDIUM CANINUM - it is found throughout the world. The adult tapeworm is made up of many small segments - the tapeworm itself can measure 4-28 inches long - each segment is about the size of a grain of rice. As the adult tapeworms matures inside the intestines, these segments break off and pass in the stool (the segments look like grains of rice or corn kernals or peanuts - are hard and are a white/slightly yellowish color). These segments are about 2mm long and are what contains the tapeworm eggs.
Alveolar Echinococcosis - AE disease results from being infected with the larval stage of Echinococcus multilocularis, a microscopic tapeworm (1-4 millimeters) found in foxes, coyotes, dogs, and cats. Although human cases are rare, infection in humans causes parasitic tumors to form in the liver, and, less commonly, the lungs, brain, and other organs. If left untreated, infection with AE can be fatal. AE is caused by tumor-like or cyst-like tapeworm larvae growing in the body. AE usually involves the liver, but can spread to other organs of the body. Because the cysts are slow-growing, infection with AE may not produce any symptoms for many years. Pain or discomfort in the upper abdominal region, weakness, and weight loss may occur as a result of the growing cysts. Symptoms may mimic those of liver cancer and cirrhosis of the liver.