Understanding Parasites: First Steps

So, if you read my previous post, I had been sick for about three years when it came to my attention that my issues could be a parasitic infection. I starting researching. What I found was that yes, my symptoms lined up. However, every resource that I thought was reputable, the CDC, Cleveland Clinic, Mount Sinai, all said the same thing. Parasitic infections were something that exist in the rest of the world but are rare in the US. However, I quickly came to the conclusion that you don’t find, what you don’t look for. I had been raised with cattle and have always had an active outdoor lifestyle, and was never treated. Meanwhile in the rest of the world people get dewormed every six months after the age of two in accordance with the recommendations of the World Health Organization.

I gathered some information about parasitic infections. Roundworms (Ascaris lumbricoides) the most common parasitic infection in humans complete their life cycle in about 8 weeks inside a host. Hookworms which are also very common complete their life cycle in 4-7 weeks. So that means from egg, to larvae to adult. This cycle can be particularly informative for women, because the parasitic cycles can overlap a woman’s cycle making period and hormonal problems worse. It is also important to note that adult roundworms and hookworms can live up to a couple years.

When thinking about the cycle, unfertilized eggs are only shed during a short time frame, therefore finding eggs in stool may be difficult, especially from a single sample. Since most parasites live their entire life inside our small intestines, we often do not see evidence of them until we start treatment. Point being, it may be difficult to obtain a diagnosis, prior to treatment.

I also want you to think about the climate you live in. It doesn’t take much research to find that parasites are more common in tropical or subtropical climates. Where I live in central Illinois is sub tropical, which added to my risk.

I also live in a highly productive agricultural area where glysophate is regularly used. It’s everywhere, including our groundwater. One of the things it is known for is being a gut disruptor, which means it has a negative impact on how we absorb vitamins and minerals. Therefore, our bodies are not functioning at an optimum level.

These are the risk factors that increase or chances of a parasitic infection.