SYMPTOMS OF PARASITIC INFESTATION
Parasites can infest any part of the human body, including the abdomen, the blood, chest, diaphragm, intestinal tract, respiratory tract, nervous system, including the brain, feet, hands, genitals, liver, muscles, skin and arms. It is therefore clearly very difficult to make a diagnosis which, without adequate testing systems, relies almost entirely on the doctor’s intuition, since possible symptoms rarely lead to diagnosing parasite infestation right away. Principal symptoms are:
Constipation: due to their particular shape and size, there are worms that can physically obstruct certain organs. “Heavy” worm infestations can, in fact, block the bile duct and the intestinal tract, making evacuation difficult and irregular.
Intestinal gas and abdominal bloating: certain parasites live in the upper part of the intestine; the ensuing inflammation leads to the production of gas and bloating, with resulting abdominal tension.
Irritable bowel syndrome: worms can irritate and inflame intestinal wall cells, leading to a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms and to a malabsorption of nutritional substances – fats in particular, with consequent voluminous evacuation.
Pain in muscles and joints: certain types of worms have the capacity to establish themselves in the synovial glands or to encyst in muscles, causing joint inflammation and muscle pain.
Anemia: certain worms adhere to the intestinal mucosa, sucking the host’s nutritional substances. Should there be a high number of parasites present, they may even cause blood loss to the point that, in the worst cases, lack of iron may result in pernicious anaemia.
Allergies: worms can irritate and sometimes perforate the intestinal wall, increasing the permeability of large, undigested molecules. This can activate an immune response of the body, with an increase in eosinophilic lymphocytes. These in turn may spark off inflammation of the tissues and an allergic reaction.
Skin affections: intestinal worms can cause skin rashes, urticaria, eczemas and other allergic types of reactions.
Granuloma: these are are small masses similar to tumours that encapsulate larvae and parasite eggs. They often develop along the walls of colon and rectum but can also appear in the lungs, in the peritoneum, liver and uterus.
Nervousness: metabolic wastes of parasites and toxic substances can act as irritants for the central nervous system. Restlessness and anxiety are often the result of a pest infestation.
Sleeping disorders: waking up often during the night, particularly between 2 and 3 in the morning, can be caused by the body’s attempt to eliminate toxic waste through the liver. According to Chinese medicine, these particular hours of the night are dominated by the liver. Sleeping disorders are also caused by the fact that certain parasites tend to exit the intestine through the anus, with consequent itching and intense discomfort.
Bruxism: anomalous teeth grinding has been observed in cases of infestation from parasites. This can be a nervous response to an internal irritant. Such symptoms are mainly noted in children during sleep.
Chronic fatigue: symptoms of chronic fatigue include tiredness, fever, apathy, depression, lack of concentration and memory lapses. Worms can be the cause of these symptoms because they are responsible for the malabsorption of proteins, carbohydrates, fats and vitamins A and B12.
Immune dysfunction: worms weaken the immune system because they cause a drop in the secretion of immunoglobulin A. Their continuous presence stimulates the immune system, which can exhaust its response in the long run and thereby give way to the aggression of viruses and bacteria.
Other symptoms of worm infestations can be: weight gain, excessive hunger, sensitivity to certain foods and environmental situations, weight loss, halitosis, asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, acne, headache, itching in certain parts of the body (ears, nose, anus, vulva), memory lapses, slow reflexes, jaundice, heartburn, erectile dysfunction, problems related to the menstrual cycle.