Stomach parasites also known as intestinal parasites are organisms that cause infection of the digestive system. They are capable of living anywhere in the body but love to reside on the walls of intestine. Any person can get infected with parasites by eating uncooked meat or by drinking infected water. Sometimes they can enter the body through cuts/wounds on the skin. There are many types of stomach parasites but two of them are significant.
Humans can get infected with parasites when he/she comes into direct contact of infected feces. Some of the common symptoms of stomach parasites are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. They can be treated and controlled by anti-parasitic group of drugs but can be prevented by eating hygienic foods and by following good hygiene in toilet.
Types :
Stomach parasites are of two types basically. They are protozoa (single celled organisms) and helminths (multicellular). Some examples of multicellular parasites are tapeworms and roundworms. Helminths are not capable of multiplying inside the human body in their adult form but protozoa can and hence for this reason protozoans are serious. Some of the common protozoans are giardia and cryptosporidium.
Symptoms :
Stomach parasites generally live in our body/intestine without any symptoms for years together. But when the immunity gets weakened for some reasons they start multiplying causing infection. Some of the common signs of parasitic infection are abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and feeling of fullness in stomach. Some people may develop bloating sensation in stomach and severe itching in and around the anus/rectum area. The person may feel tired and sick due to above symptoms.
Causes :
Stomach parasites can enter into human body by many ways. It can be directly swallowed by eating undercooked/infected meat or by drinking contaminated water. Drinking impure water in public places like restaurants can also cause infection. Improper hygiene in toilet can become another cause for getting infected. Infected fecal particles lying in the open ground can be easily contracted by children and adults by walking barefooted on such places. Not washing hands properly after using toilet can also cause infection.