Parasites

Parasites are all organisms that live inside another organism (host), using it as a source of food and the environment of life, while acting to its detriment. Parasites lead to complete dysbiosis of the organism, that is, a state where friendly flora is overrun and poisoned by pathogens. Both ticks and some mosquitoes, lice, flies, etc. are classified as a parasites. However, these are external parasites, and today discuss parasites that exist in our body only internally. This situation often occurs with Lyme disease, where the body's defenses against parasites are diminished.

Types of parasites:

The biggest mistake is to think that parasites reside only in the digestive tract, where their most frequent diagnosis occurs. Parasites also live in the host's blood, internal organs, lymphatic system and other tissues of the body. Some parasites are able to completely infect the body. There are more than 3200 varieties of parasites and they can be divided into four main categories:
1. Protozoa: lamblia, cryptosporidium, ciliate and Creeper-travel in the blood stream and infect all parts of the body
2. Flukes: Blood, lung, liver, kidney or bladder flukes-their length is about 1-2 cm
3. Tapeworms: tapeworms of cattle, dogs, fish or pigs-can measure up to 12 m
4. Roundworms: nematodes, hookworms – live in the intestines, pancreas, heart, liver or lungs, can measure from 0.2 to 35 cm. They are very easy to transmit.

Symptoms of infection:

The most common symptoms are abdominal pain and diarrhea, but parasites can cause all kinds of symptoms that we do not initially associate with infection. They are above all:

- Digestive problems: gas, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, constipation, intestinal cramps, mucus in stool, insatiable or lack of appetite, craving for sweets, intolerance to e.g. gluten or lactose.
- Problems with the immune system: weakness, chronic fatigue, frequent infections.
- Problems with the nervous system: memory problems, insomnia, dementia.
- Emotional problems: depression, neurosis, irritability, anxiety.
- Other problems: allergies, acne, white spots around the mouth, urticaria.

Possible sources of infection:

There are many ways of infection with parasites, they can occur in everyday, ordinary activities. If, in addition, we have a weak immunity due to the presence of Lyme disease and its co-infections and the often associated long-term intake of antibiotics, the chance of infection with parasites increases significantly.
Parasites can spread through water sources, especially rivers, lakes, wells or tap water. Undercooked food is also a common route of infection. It is necessary to pay special attention to the proper preparation and processing of fish, meat, as well as nuts, lettuce, etc. The carrier can also be animals, both domestic and breeding. That is why it is so important to clean your animals regularly. Another potential source is also physical contact with an infected person e.g. sexual intercourse but also lack of proper hygiene such as hand washing among children. 

Diagnosis:

The most common method of diagnosing parasites is the examination of feces. The test shall be carried out three times at regular intervals. This allows the eggs of the parasite to hatch and allows the specific material to be examined. However, some of the parasites, such as pinworms, are stuied mainly with the help of perianal swabs. It is important to perform the tests in a specialized laboratory, which is specialized in Parasitology.
Another option is a serological blood test. Unfortunately, the test is useful only at a late stage of infection.

Treatment:

A common method of treatment is taking an antibiotic, but more and more people are opting for natural methods of treating parasites. The natural treatment combines properly balanced diet and the use of specialized herbs to strengthen the immune system.
The most famous antiparasitic herbs include:
- Sweet wormwood
- Black walnut
- Mimosa pudica
- Chaparro amargosa
- Artemia annua
- Barberry
- Yellow gentian root
- Oregano oil
- Clove oil
- Grapefruit seed extract
- Ginger

Parasites are an increasingly common problem in society. According to WHO data, over the past 10 years, parasites have infected more than 4.5 billion people, where in Europe it was one in three people. What is also very important is that without the early treatment of the parasitic infection, the treatment of Lyme disease may not bring the desired results. That is why it is so important to have appropriate treatment before starting the treatment of Lyme disease and its co-infections.