Warning Signs that Your Body is Full of Parasites

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Just imagining a parasite in the body is a scary thing, but many people have parasites and are not even aware of it.

Parasites are microorganisms that live off other organisms. Anyone can get a parasitic infestation. It is more common than you may think.

Some parasites can cause disease directly, while others cause disease by the toxins that they produce. There are several types of parasites that live in and feed off your body. Some survive on the food you consume, some feed on red blood cells and some even lay eggs inside your body.

Some of the common parasites that can infest your body are pinworms, Gardia lambia, hookworms, tapeworms, trichinella, and dientamoeba fragilis.

They normally enter the body through the skin or mouth. A person can get a parasite infestation due to several reasons, including exposure to areas having parasites, traveling to places that have parasite infestations, intake of contaminated water or food, poor sanitation, poor hygiene and a weak immune system.

Close contact with pets can also lead to a parasite infestation.

As parasites are of different forms, shapes and sizes, they cause a very wide range of signs and symptoms.

1. Chronic Digestive Issues

Intestinal parasite infestation can cause inflammation and destroy the intestinal lining of the gut, leading to chronic diarrhea.

A 2015 study published in the Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare emphasizes routine intestinal parasite screening to increase the diagnostic rate of parasitic diarrhea and improve the treatment and prevention strategies of diarrhea in children with severe acute malnutrition.

If you are eating high fiber and highly alkaline foods on a daily basis and still experience diarrhea or other digestive issues, consider a parasite cleanse.Here are the twarning signs that your body is full of parasites.

2. Abdominal Pain

Another stomach problem caused by parasites is abdominal pain. Parasites residing in the upper small intestinal region cause inflammation and irritation in this area. This leads to a bloated feeling and pain in the abdomen.

Plus, parasites can even block the passage of waste products exiting the body, which can lead to pain in the upper abdominal region.

3. Anal Itching

Itching around the anus is another sign of a parasite infection. Especially those suffering from pinworms often complain of anal itching or discomfort. Itching around the anus occurs frequently at night when the female pinworms lay their eggs.

The itching is caused by the female pinworms that migrate to lay eggs around the anus. Both the migrating female pinworms as well as the clumps of eggs are irritating and cause itching, crawling sensations or even acute pain.

4. Fatigue and Weakness

Fatigue may also be a symptom of a parasite infestation. This is mainly associated with intestinal worms that deplete the body of vital nutrients by feeding on the food you eat.

Malabsorption of vitamins, minerals, fats and carbohydrates can make the body weak, leaving you exhausted, depressed and with a feeling of general apathy. It can lead to exhaustion at mental, physical and emotional levels.

5. Change in Appetite & Weight Loss

If you notice a sudden change in your appetite, particularly an increase in appetite, it may be due to the presence of parasites in your body.

6. Mental Distress

A parasite infestation can even cause mood swings, depression, anxiety and also visual hallucinations. Often, these symptoms are paired with digestive issues.

The intestine contains both neurons and neurotransmitters (specifically serotonin), which are important for a healthy enteric nervous system.

Toxic metabolic waste produced by parasites residing in the intestine can attack neurons and neurotransmitters, causing nervousness, restlessness, mood swings and even depression.

7. Teeth Grinding

If you grind your teeth in your sleep, one possible cause is a parasite infestation. Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, may occur while sleeping due to anxiety and restlessness caused by waste and toxins released by the parasites in the body.

A 2010 study published in Dental Research Journal confirmed the correlation between intestinal parasitic infections and bruxism among small children.

8. Iron-Deficiency Anemia

Infestations by intestinal roundworms or pinworms can lead to iron deficiency in the body and ultimately cause anemia.

The parasites steal the good vitamins, including iron, from the food the person eats, leading to an iron deficiency.