- AIDS:
- People with AIDS often have treatment-resistant Candida albicans because of the impaired immune factors caused by many parasites. A study done at the University of Virginia reported that an amoeba, Entamoeba histolytica, produces a substance that attacks the very immune defence cells that can inactivate the HIV virus. The New England Journal of Medicine drew a connection between AIDS and epidemic outbreaks of amebiasis two years prior to the San Franscico AIDS outbreak (Aug.7, 1986) As a result of the AIDS epidemic, the incidence of many parasitic diseases has increased – Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, cryptosporidiosis, and strongyloidiasis.
- Allergy:
- Parasites can irritate and sometimes perforate the intestinal lining. This increases the possibility of large undigested molecules crossing the barrier into the bloodstream. It is these large molecules that irritate the immune system enough to cause such allergy symptoms as increasing the levels of eosinophils which, in turn, inflame tissues, resulting in allergy-type symptoms. Parasites can also trigger an increase in the production of immunoglobulin E (IgE). All this can result in many different types of food allergies or sensitivities.
- Anal itching:
- When especially at night. This is often a sign of pinworms, but can also be a symptom of any of a number of parasites.
- Anemia:
- Some intestinal parasites attach themselves to the mucosal lining of the intestines, leeching nutrients from the host. If the numbers are large enough, they can create enough blood loss to cause iron deficient or pernicious anemia.
- Breasts:
- Breasts that become sore and swollen, but not related to menstruation.
- Chest pains or heartburn:
- When these are not to be confused with impending heart attacks.
- Chronic fatigue:
- Parasites cause physical, mental, and emotional symptoms which include the following: tiredness, flu-like complaints, apathy, depression, impaired concentration, and faulty memory. Extreme fatigue is often the result of malnutrition brought on by the malabsorption of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and especially Vitamins A and B12, caused by parasites blocking absorption sites in the intestines.
- Constipation:
- Because of their size and shape, some worms can obstruct the intestine making elimination difficult.
- Diarrhea:
- Certain parasites (mainly protozoa) produce prostaglandin, which creates a loss of certain electrolytes. Diarrhea is the result of parasitic action and not necessarily the body’s attempt to rid itself of the organism.
- Digestive complaints:
- Parasitic invasion are often mistaken for vague digestive problems, includingthe following: flu-like symptoms, colitis, gas, bloating, indigestion, feeling full all the time, stomach aches or burning sensations, nausea, unexplained vomiting, etc. There can also be a weight loss while still having a vigorous appetite. Other digestive problems can include the following: difficulty in gaining or losing weight, uncontrolled chronic yeast problems, plus numerous and varied food allergies or sensitivities, as well as environmental intolerances. More than 50% of those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome were considered “cured” of their disease when the parasite infestation was treated.
- Elimination changes:
- Stools that are foul-smelling and greasy, becoming worse in the afternoon and evening, are often symptoms of parasitic infestations, particularly that of Giardia lamblia. Other symptoms include the following: alternating periods of soft or watery stools and constipation, abdominal cramps, abdominal rumblings and gurglings different from periods of hunger and eating. Other changes can include bedwetting, blood in stools, and dysentery (different from simple diarrhea).
- Gas and Bloating:
- Some parasites live in the upper small intestine, where inflammation can produce these symptoms. They can be magnified when such hard-to-digest foods as beans and raw fruits and vegetables are eaten. Persistent abdominal distention is a frequent sign of parasite invasion. Symptoms can persist intermittently for months or years if the parasites are not eliminated entirely from the body.
- Gingivitis:
- Without proper care of the mouth, the normal bacterial flora can be altered, allowing for pathogens and parasites to take over. As cysts enter the mouth and travel throughout the body, a weakened area, as the mouth, will easily become a target.
- Granulomas:
- Tumor-like masses that encase destroyed larva or parasitic eggs are called granulomas. They develop most often in the colon or rectal walls, but can be found in the lungs, liver, peritoneum, and uterus.
- Immune dysfunction:
- Parasites depress immune system function by decreasing the secretion of IgA. Their presence continuously stimulates the immune system response, and, over time, can exhaust this line of defence, leaving the body open to an influx of other parasites, as well as bacterial and viral infections. Unexplained disorders can include the following simple complaints: itchy skin/ears/nose/anus, joint and muscle aches and pains, low back pain, rashes, etc., to more serious autoimmune disorders including Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, etc.
- Irritable bowel syndrome:
- Parasites can irritate, inflame, and coat the intestinal wall, leading to a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms and malabsorption problems, particularly of fatty foods, leading to bulky stools and steatorrhea (excess fat in the stools).
- Joint and muscle aches and pains:
- Parasites can migrate to joint fluids. Worms can encyst, that is, become enclosed in a sac, within the muscles. When this happens, the pain is diagnosed as arthritis or rheumatism. Inflammation will be real because their presence will stimulate the body’s immune system to respond to their presence, but being microscopic, will not be a suspect.
- Mental changes:
- When these include the following: depression, impaired thinking, bursts of anger, confusion, restlessness, anxiety, and nervousness are often the result of systemic parasite infestation. Parasitic metabolic wastes and toxic substances can serve as irritants to the central nervous system, causing these symptoms.
- Other health complaints:
- Parasites are the missing diagnosis of many health problems including the following: chronic fatigue, hypoglycemia, hypothyroidism, hypoadrenalism, dysgonadism (a protein dysfunction in the genito-gonadal area), chronic upper respiratory ailments, depressive manifestations, depressed libido, and endometriosis.
- Respiratory problems:
- These include the following: coughing and wheezing, shortness of breath, often with flu-like symptoms, andexcessive nose picking. Parasites are known to migrate to the upper respiratory tract, causing irritation.
- Skin conditions:
- Intestinal worms can cause the following: hives, rashes, weeping eczema and other skin lesions. Cutaneous ulcers, swellings, sores, papular lesions and itchy dermatitis can all result from protozoan invasion.
- Sleep disturbances:
- Restlessness with multiple awakenings during the night, particularly between 2 and 3 AM, can be caused by the body’s attempt to eliminate toxic wastes via the liver. According to Chinese medicine, these hours are governed by the liver. Sleep disturbances are also caused by nocturnal exits of certain parasites through the anus, creating intense discomfort and itching.
- Teeth grinding:
- Bruxism is the abnormal grinding, clenching, and gnashing of the teeth, often observed in cases of parasitic infection. This is more noticeable in children, especially at night, and may be a nervous response to an internal foreign irritant. In “conventional” medical material, they still maintain that the cause of this remains unknown and controversial.
Possible signs of parasite infestation:
