A parasite is an organism that lives at the expense of the host. The host is required to survive and to reproduce. A parasite can live either on the outside of a host (such as lice, tics and fleas) as well as on the inside of a host (such as intestinal parasites, eyeworms and tapeworms).

Cause

Parasites range from microscopic, single-celled organisms (protozoa) to larger multicellular organisms. Due to the immune responses of the body, contamination usually doesn’t lead to an infection. A person is not sick. Most parasites are already rendered harmless at the first contact with the body. In some cases, however, the parasite penetrates further into the body and then there is an infection. The immune system is activated in order to prevent further spread of the disease. Then a person becomes ill or has symptoms. Examples of dangerous infections caused by a parasite are malaria, yellow fever and sleeping sickness.

Symptoms

The parasite causes damage to the human body by injury and/or toxic substances. A parasitic infection leads to very different responses, which are characteristic of the specific parasite. So, for example, itch, swelling, abdominal pain, fatigue, rash, diarrhea or other intestinal problems can occur. Sometimes, symptoms begin long after infection.

Diagnosis

The symptoms caused by parasites are often general in nature, which makes the diagnosis difficult to make. In many cases, therefore, a specialist must be consulted. Certainty can often only be obtained by demonstrating the parasite in blood, feces, urine or bone marrow. This parasitological diagnosis requires a certain degree of expertise and should usually be carried out in a laboratory.

Treatment

An infection caused by a parasite is treated with antiparasitics. Such drugs prevent the production of proteins by the parasite. Without proteins, the parasite cannot grow and dies. There are currently no effective vaccines for parasitic infections.

Prognosis

Several chronic infectious diseases that cause complications in the long run, will occur more frequently in the future, especially among the elderly. This is because people who are infected with HIV, hepatitis B or C at a younger age, will grow much older due to better treatment methods.

Considerations

It is important to prevent infection by paying attention to hygiene:

• Washing hands, especially after using the toilet.
• Hygienic handling of foods, especially raw meat and products which are eaten raw.
• Well cooking and frying of meat (for example minced meat and chicken).
• Dealing with pets, such as changing the litter box with gloves. This is particularly important for pregnant women.
• Travellers to developing areas are advised to bake, cook, peel or forget food.
• Some organisms survive freezing, so diseases can be transferred via ice cubes, unless they are made of purified water.

Facts

• The term ‘parasite’ is derived from the Greek word parasitos (co-eater), which is composed of the words para (next, near) and sitos (wheat, bread, food).
• The prevalence of parasitic infection is unknown.
• Many parasitic infections are acquired by travellers to the (sub)tropics.

Synonyms

Parasitism

See also

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

Hepatitis

Malaria

Blood Test

Stool Test

Urinalysis

Protein

Parasitic infection

Parasite

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