Parasitic infections are diseases caused by parasites, such as worms or fleas. Parasitic infections occur when parasites enter the body through contaminated food or drink, insect bites, or direct and indirect contact with people with parasitic infections.
Parasites are microorganisms that live and depend on other organisms for their life. Some parasites are harmless, while others can live and thrive in the human body and then cause infection.
Parasitic infections sometimes go away on their own. However, someone who experiences symptoms of a parasitic infection is advised to see a doctor. This is to prevent transmission of infection to other people.
Causes of Parasitic Infection
Parasitic infections occur when parasites enter the human body through the mouth or skin. In the body, parasites will develop and infect certain organs.
There are three types of parasites that can cause infection in humans, namely:
Protozoa
Protozoa are a type of parasite that generally can only be seen through a microscope. Protozoa that can infect humans can be divided into 4 types, namely:
- Amoeba, which causes amebiasis
- Siliophora, which causes balantidiasis
- Flagellates, which causes giardiasis
- Sporozoa, which causes cryptosporidiosis, malaria, and toxoplasmosis
Worm
Worms are parasites that can generally be seen with the naked eye. Just like protozoa, worms can live inside or outside the human body.
There are three types of worms that can become parasites in the human body, namely:
- Acanthocephala or thorn head worm
- Platyhelminths or flatworms, including hookworms (trematodes) and tapeworms that cause taeniasis
- Nematodes, such as roundworms that cause ascariasis, pinworms, and hookworms
Adult worms generally live in the digestive tract, blood, lymph system, or tissue under the skin. However, worms cannot reproduce in the human body. In addition to the adult form of the worm, the larval form of the worm can also infect various body tissues.
ectoparasite
Ectoparasites are a type of parasite that lives on human skin and gets food by sucking human blood. Some examples of ectoparasites are:
- Pediculus humanus capitus, namely head lice that cause the scalp to itch
- Pthyrus pubis, namely pubic lice that make the pubic skin feel itchy, irritated, and sometimes cause fever
- Sarcoptes scabiei, namely mites that cause scabies or scabies
Transmission of Parasitic Infection
Parasites can live inside or outside the body of humans and animals. These microorganisms can be found in soil, water, feces, and objects contaminated with feces.
Therefore, people with parasitic infections who do not wash their hands thoroughly after defecating (BAB) can transmit the parasites to other people through direct contact or any object they touch.
Parasitic infections can also occur through other means, such as:
- Consumption of food and drink contaminated with parasites
- Contact with animals infected with parasites or sufferers of parasitic infections, either directly or indirectly, for example through combs or hats
- Bites of mosquitoes or other insects infected with parasites
- Sexual intercourse orally (through the mouth) and anal (through the anus)
In rare cases, the parasite can also be transmitted through blood transfusions, organ transplants, and from pregnant women to their unborn babies.
Parasite Infection Risk Factors
Parasitic infections can happen to anyone. However, the risk of developing the disease is higher in people with the following factors:
- Suffering from immune system disorders
- Living in an area that lacks a clean water supply
- Have pets that are infected with parasites or are not kept clean
- Swim in a dirty river, lake or pond
- Having a job that involves contact with feces, such as babysitters or children
Symptoms of Parasite Infection
Symptoms of a parasitic infection depend on the type of parasite that attacks and develops in the body. For example, trichomoniasis often causes no symptoms. However, in some cases, symptoms may appear in the form of irritation, itching, and redness of the skin around the genitals, as well as abnormal discharge from the genitals.
Other possible symptoms of a parasitic infection include:
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Stomach ache
- Oily stool
- Muscle ache
- Swollen lymph nodes
When to go to the doctor
Immediately consult a doctor if you experience symptoms of a parasitic infection, so that an examination and treatment can be carried out as soon as possible. This is intended to prevent parasitic infections from causing more serious complaints and not being transmitted to other people.
Parasite Infection Diagnosis
In diagnosing, the doctor will ask the patient's symptoms, recent activities that may have made the patient infected with parasites, and perform a physical examination. In order to make the diagnosis more accurate, the doctor will also perform the following supporting examinations:
- Examination of samples of blood, urine, feces, and phlegm, to detect the presence of parasites or antibodies formed due to infection
- Scans with X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs, to detect wounds caused by parasitic infections in internal organs
- Endoscopy or colonoscopy, to check the condition of the digestive tract
- Taking tissue samples (biopsy) from the intestines or other organs suspected of being infected with parasites, for examination in the laboratory
Parasite Infection Treatment
Treatment of a parasitic infection depends on the type of parasite invading the body and its severity. In some cases, parasitic infections will resolve on their own. While in other cases, parasitic infections need to be treated with antiparasitic drugs, such as:
- Albendazole
- Ivermectin
- mebendazole
- Nitazoxanide
- Thiabendazole
Please note, not all parasitic infections can be treated only with antiparasitic drugs. In this case, the doctor will also prescribe antibiotics and antifungals to help treat the parasitic infection.
Diarrhea caused by a parasitic infection makes the sufferer more susceptible to dehydration. Therefore, doctors usually also advise patients to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration from occurring.
Complications of Parasite Infection
Complications that can occur due to parasitic infection depend on the type of disease. In the case of pinworms, complications that may arise include inflammation of the vagina (vaginitis), inflammation of the lining of the uterus (endometriosis), and urinary tract infections.
While complications that can occur in cryptosporidiosis include malnutrition, and inflammation of the gallbladder, liver, and pancreas.
Parasite Infection Prevention
Parasitic infections can occur anywhere. Therefore, it is very important to take preventive measures to reduce the risk of being infected with parasites. This can be done by:
- Wash your hands until they are completely clean
- Cooking food to perfection
- Consuming boiled water or bottled water
- Avoid swallowing water from rivers, ponds, or lakes while swimming
- Do not share the use of personal items, such as combs, towels, hats, or underwear, with others