There are certain health problems that we didn’t even bother to pay enough attention to. One of them is parasite infection (or parasitic infection). It is the invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganisms (like parasites) which can lead to cell and tissue damage and eventually, chronic diseases.

In America, parasites do not spread life-threatening infections, thanks to sanitary living conditions. But the same fate cannot be said in other parts of the world where parasite infections are considered epidemic.

The real danger when it comes to parasites is that it can dwell inside the host’s body for years and not produce even a single sign or symptom. This is one of the reasons why such infections are hard to diagnose. Most patients may show some vague symptoms that are usually linked to other health problems. Eventually, their presence in the body causes a number of chronic diseases and medical conditions like frequent colds, skin problems, chronic fatigue and weakness.

So who are at risk of parasite infection? People who have weak immune system due to over-exposure to environmental pollution or toxic waste have high risk factor. So do people who takes antibiotics for a long period of time and people who are smoking and drinking, as well as those who are taking illegal drugs. Emotional and physical stress, low fiber diet and obesity are also risk factors.

How do we know if a person is suffering from parasite infection? It’s really hard to tell. Even doctors need laboratory findings to pinpoint the exact cause of vague symptoms. On the other hand, some symptoms may be indicative of parasitic infections. For example, if the person has a sudden change in bowel habits or if the person suffering from diarrhea has a foul smelling stool which gets worst in the latter part of the day, then he might have the infection. Other symptoms include chest pain, itching around the ears, nose and anus (usually at night), flu-like symptoms like nasal congestion and fever and non-specific food allergies.