Parasites – The Hidden Health Threat
The most under diagnosed health problem in the West, parasites may be responsible for a multitude of conditions from joint pain and chronic fatigue to many general disorders of the gut and immune system
Few of our doctors in civilised Western nations are trained to recognise the signs of parasitic infestation. Yet parasites do live among us. According to a number of experts, they may be the single most under diagnosed and under appreciated health threat in the West.
Parasites, which can be broadly classified as either protozoa (such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium), worms (including roundworms, or nematodes and tapeworms, or cestodes), or flukes (also called trematodes, which attack various body tissues with powerful suckers), have been associated with a wide range of diseases. Eminent doctors, such as WDDTY panellist Dr Leo Galland, have spent many years researching the effects of human parasites on health. Indeed Dr Galland has gone on record suggesting that “every patient with disorders of immune function, including multiple allergies (especially food allergies), and patients with unexplained fatigue or with chronic bowel symptoms, should be evaluated for the presence of intestinal parasites”.
As recently as 1987, a group of American researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analysed the results of 216,275 stool specimens, examined by state laboratories across the US. They found parasites in 20 per cent of the samples (Am J Trop Med Hyg, 1994; 50: 705-13).
The most common were Giardia intestinalis, Entamoeba coli, Endolimax nana, Blastocystis hominus and Entamoeba histolytica, but nematodes were also found. Their conclusion was that parasites were being overlooked as an important cause of gastrointestinal (GI) illness in the US.
Other reviews clearly illustrate the extent of the problem. According to the report Parasitic Diseases (Despommier, et al, New York: Springer Verlag, 1995), the number of people worldwide who are infested with the different classes of parasites is: nematodes, 1 billion individuals; cestodes, 300 million; trematodes, 300 million; and protozoa, 1 billion. This gives some credence to the oft quoted statistic that at least 50 per cent of the world’s population is infested with at least one parasite.
Although parasites, when they do occur in the West, have been considered largely a problem of rural areas, this is also untrue. Recent outbreaks of Cryptosporidia, Cyclospora and Giardia in metropolitan and relatively affluent areas, such as New York City, Las Vegas and London, suggest that no area and no social class is exempt. Indeed, the largest outbreak in US history, affecting over 400,000 people and killing 100, occurred in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Parasites latch on to those whose immune systems are functioning poorly. Generally, individuals whose immune systems are already compromised from chemotherapy for cancer or from immune suppressing drugs for AIDS are especially vulnerable to parasitic infections. But because we are all bombarded daily with substances which overstimulate and exhaust our immune systems, we are all vulnerable.
Misdiagnosis
Most doctors have no training in tropical medicine or parasitology, and simply would not recognise the signs of parasitic infestation. Many common symptoms, such as nausea, gastrointestinal upset, insomnia and constipation, can easily be attributed to other diseases. Consequently, doctors rely on routine tests to provide a diagnosis. Such tests will commonly yield false results, leaving the real cause of the illness uncovered.
Should a patient undergo a stool test, this may also prove to be misleading. Single stool tests are unlikely to be conclusive. To be reliable, it may be necessary to test three or more samples since the shedding of eggs in human faeces tends to be cyclical. A single test would only be reliable if the sample was taken around the time that the adult parasite lays its eggs. Also, those parasites which inhabit muscles and other tissues will not show up in a stool test. To detect these parasites, tissue samples must be obtained.
The standard stool test is also unlikely to be helpful in detecting those parasites which inhabit the upper GI tract. This is why some physicians believe that the purged stool test, involving the use of a powerful laxative, may be a more conclusive tool, particularly when searching for Giardia, amoeba, roundworm, threadworm, tapeworm, flukes, Cryptosporidium and hookworm. This test should not, however, be administered in cases of intestinal obstruction, pregnancy, appendicitis, high blood pressure or debilitation.
It is believed that taking samples of rectal mucous, which the eggs adhere to, is the most reliable way of determining whether an individual is suffering from parasitic infestation, especially for those who are greatly debilitated. A recent study showed that when this method was used, almost 50 per cent of patients previously diagnosed as having irritable bowel syndrome were discovered to actually be suffering from giardiasis. The patients had been suffering with misdiagnosed bowel problems for an average of seven years (AL Gittleman, Guess What Came To Dinner, New York: Avery, 1993).
Blood tests can only be a general indicator of parasitic infection. Most parasites, except for Giardia and amoeba, will elevate levels of the white blood cell eosinophil, which is produced in response to allergens and infections, in this case the parasite. Blood tests can also be used to detect specific antibodies to such organisms as Entamoeba histolytica, Toxoplasma gondii, Leishmania, Strongyloides and flukes. However, these may not be entirely reliable in individuals who are already so immune compromised that they cannot produce antibodies.
But at the moment, diagnosis is almost a moot point since the majority of doctors simply would not consider the search for parasites as a first option in treatment. Because of this, patients can be left with damaging parasites infesting their tissues and organs, leeching essential nutrients from their system and causing extensive gut damage. But more importantly, a misdiagnosis leads physicians to prescribe powerful drugs which can further depress the immune system leaving the individual open to more prolific infestation.
Once parasites take up residence, symptoms may appear immediately, within a few days or, in some cases, not for months of even years. Infected individuals may also be asymptomatic, showing no symptoms themselves but still capable of transmitting parasites to others. In latent cases, it is usually another illness, surgery or stress, which further challenges the immune system and may, in turn, bring on symptoms of infestation.
Links with other diseases
A number of doctors who now believe that parasites are implicated in a number of the diseases which plague modern society, such as cancer, AIDS and Crohn’s disease. A recent study of over 400 chronic fatigue immune deficiency syndrome (CFIDS) patients in New York revealed that an incredible 93 per cent had some form of parasitic infestation (J Nutritional Med, 1990; 1: 27-31).
Although we tend to associate giardiasis primarily with gastrointestinal symptoms, severe hypothyroidism may also result from infection with Giardia lamblia (Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes, 1996; 104: 180-2).
The largest of the intestinal nematodes (worms), Ascaris lumbricoides, migrates within the body tissues. As this parasite progresses through the lungs, the allergic response which is generated may cause pneumonia, and in animal models it has been linked with the development of idiopathic bronchial asthma. Children born to infected mothers have a much higher susceptibility to the same infection later in life (Nat Arch Allergy Immunol, 1996; 109: 3-10).
In immune compromised patients, Cryptosporidium and Giardia infestation can cause malabsorption and nutrient loss (Clin Microbiol Rev, 1992; 5: 93-100; Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 1995; 125: 899-908). In those with AIDS, deaths due to diarrhoea approach 80 per cent. Among those who survive, other problems such as chronic coughing and low grade fever may occur.
Dr Hulda Clarke, author of The Cure For All Diseases (San Diego, California: ProMotion Pubishing, 1995), believes that the most dangerous of all the parasites is Fasciolopsis buski. This intestinal fluke lives among water plants, such as water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, watercress and lotus root plants, and enters the body when an individual ingests these. Although this fluke is traditionally found in Southeast Asia, Dr Clarke claims to have found it in every case of cancer, HIV infection, Alzheimer’s, Crohn’s disease and endometriosis that she has examined.
Dr Clarke’s work centres mostly around flukes, so she cannot say whether the water pollution link is also applicable in tapeworms and roundworms. It is fair to say that conventional practitioners view her conclusions as a red rag to a bull. Nevertheless, she reports high success in curing disease through a programme of detoxification and the use of high frequency electronic “zapping” as part of a recovery programme for parasites (see box p 2).
Where do they come from?
Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of parasite infestations is that they come from many of the things which we need in order to survive: the water we drink and bathe in, the food we eat, the air we breathe. Pets, sexual practices, crowded day care centres and international travel are also implicated.
Drinking water is increasingly becoming an act of faith. Apart from being polluted with high levels of toxic chemicals, studies by American water authorities have shown that the Giardia cyst can survive for up to three months in cool or cold water, while the Cryptosporidium cyst can survive for between 12 and 18 months (Journal AWWA, Feb 1988: 14-27). Cryptosporidium is now the leading cause of water borne illness in the US, with over 80 per cent of surface water samples and 28 per cent of drinking water samples taken from hundreds of sites across the eastern and western US found to be contaminated with this parasite (Appl Environ Microbiol, 1994; 57: 2617-21).
While water is the most common source for parasites such as Cyclospora, food can also harbour this parasite. In the spring of 1996 and 1997 in the US and Canada, an outbreak of cyclosporiasis was associated with the consumption of fresh Guatemalan raspberries (Ann Intern Med, 1999; 130: 210-20). The outbreak affected more than 1000 individuals.
Cryptosporidiosis has also been associated with the consumption of school milk. In West Yorkshire in 1995, 50 children became ill with gastrointestinal symptoms after drinking school milk. Lengthy questionnaires pinpointed the source as being a small scale local producer who had an on farm pasteuriser (Lancet, 1997; 350: 1005-6). Other studies have associated Cryptosporidium with drinking unpasteurised milk (BMJ, 1990; 300: 774-7; Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1987; 6: 56-9).
Cryptosporidium oocysts (eggs in an enclosed sac) cannot survive the pasteurisation process (App Environ Microbiol, 1996; 62: 2866-8), so it is likely that the West Yorkshire outbreak was due to inadequate pasteurisation.
Access to food from many other countries means that we are exposed to the parasites which are common to those cultures. Toxoplasmosis due to Toxoplasma gondii is a latent parasitic infection. In pregnant women it is related to a higher risk of congenital abnormalities. While the usual advice is to avoid contact with cat litter boxes, contact with contaminated meat is considered by some to be an even more important cause of T gondii (Emerging Infective Dis, 197; 3: 443-52).
Treatment
Drug treatments, which are often oral pesticides, are not always effective. Indeed, in every case of infestation, the need for treatment must be weighed against the often high toxicity of the drug. A decision to withhold therapy may also be wise, given the number of side effects which pesticides can cause (Med Let Drug Ther, 1992: 1). For instance, mebendazole, often chosen to treat roundworm infections in children as it can be administered in a single dose, can cause abdominal pain, diarrhoea and skin reactions.
Metronidazole (Flagyl), which is used to treat giardiasis, amebiasis and trichomoniasis, can cause nausea, headaches, disorientation, and can leave a metallic taste in the mouth. It can also encourage yeast growth, further depressing an already compromised immune system.
The parasite expert Dr Louis Parish has warned of the misconception that “treatment with a single course of metronidazole is 90 per cent effective”. Twenty five years ago this may have been true, but the protozoa rapidly become resistant. Today, the single course cure rate is less than 5 per cent. Furthermore, approximately half of the patients treated with metronidazole complain of side effects, and 10 per cent flatly refuse to ever take it again (Townsend Letter Docs, 1990; 89: 832-5).
The ability of parasites to adapt is actually quite remarkable. Like bacteria, parasites can use their encysted or resting periods to toughen their cell walls to a nearly impermeable state. This adaptability was dramatically illustrated after several outbreaks of Cryptosporidia infection rocked American towns in the late 1980s and early 1990s. As awareness grew that the outbreaks were linked to water quality, debates raged about the “proper” use of chlorine and how this powerful disinfectant could keep outbreaks at bay. Many outbreaks were from water sources which met all current standards for quality.
There followed a sudden surge of outbreaks of legionnaires’ disease, cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis among people who used chlorinated hot tubs, public spas and swimming pools (Am J Epidemiol, 1984; 120: 809-17; JAMA, 1985; 253: 535-9). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was forced to admit that “Cryptosporidium oocysts are resistant to disinfection by chlorine”. Environmental Protection Agency laboratory studies later showed that Cryptosporidium could actually live on Clorox (an extremely strong household bleach).
In fact, the main treatment for parasites is prevention and, failing that, a cocktail of herbal remedies (see box, p 4). This centres around keeping our immune system strong and our guts healthy so that parasites are both less inclined and less able to take hold. In the meantime, practitioners must be much more sensitive to the problem of parasites. In the coming years we may find that our recognition of parasites may parallel that of candida neglecting it for many years before finally admitting how fundamentally it can affect human health.
Sidebar: Symptoms associated with parasitic infestation
Parasites can damage the body in several ways. They destroy body cells faster than they can be regenerated, leading to perforation, ulceration and anaemia. They secrete toxic substances which stimulate the immune system and can produce allergic-type reactions and cause pain and inflammation, Depending on their size, they can cause obstruction of vital organs—particularly the intestine, pancreas and bile ducts. Encysted parasites can put pressure on the brain,
spinal cord, eye, heart or bones.
Common complaints associated with parasites include:
- Constipation
- Diarrhoea
- Gas and bloating
- Joint and muscle pains
- Anaemia
- Allergy
- Skin conditions
- Granulomas
- Nervousness
- Sleep disturbance
- Teeth Grinding
- Chronic Fatigue
- Immune Dysfunction
Sidebar: Bug zapping
Dr Hulda Clarke’s prescription for dealing with parasites includes “zapping” bugs with a homemade electronic gadget. All living things emit unique electronic frequencies. Through her study, she identified the frequencies of a wide range of parasites and found that by charging the human body with that frequency, she could kill the parasites in much the same way that electronic equipment oscillating within human frequencies can damage us.
Practitioners of a relatively new therapy called bio-resonance have over the years refined Dr Clarke’s model, and have found good results with using electricity to rid the body of parasites. Although relatively new to the UK, bio-resonance is well known in other European countries, especially Germany. In the UK, Reinhold Will, author of Bio-resonance Therapy (Wiesbaden, Germany: Jopp-Verlag, 1998), is one of the most well known practitioners. He says that, because diagnosis with the BICOM device looks for disturbances in the oscillation of the whole body, using this method enables him to find parasites in parts of the body where they cannot be diagnosed with conventional methods for example, in the liver, kidney or gall bladder.
Mr Will’s experience confirms that of other practitioners, namely that the presence of parasites is usually accompanied by some other debilitating condition. He cites the example of a young patient who had chronic bronchitis. Investigation with the BIOCOM device showed that the young man had not only a cow’s milk allergy but also Ascaris lumbricoides in the lungs. It took eight sessions to rid the body of the parasite. Mr Will also believes that fungi and parasites are closely related and that the practitioner must first treat the condition which has allowed the parasite to take hold (such as poor immune function or overgrowth of fungi). Only then should therapy be used to rid the body of the parasite.
Sidebar: Body and mind
In addition to physical symptoms, parasites are also associated with a wide range of emotional and neurological symptoms. Few studies have devoted much space to this subject. However, one 10 year study into pinworms (threadworms) by Dr Leo Litter was published decades ago (Arch Ped, 1961; 78: 440-55), and remains a standard reference in the field. The children in his study exhibited a large number of behavioural problems, including irritability, insomnia, inability to concentrate, mood swings, unruly behaviour, impatience, impulsiveness, aggressiveness and a short attention span symptoms similar to those of the hyperactive child.
Dr Little suggested that these symptoms were provoked by an allergic response to the parasite. He also noted that children who have parasites showed abnormal brain wave activity, which may also be linked to behavioural problems. Among his patients, there was a remarkable change in behaviour once parasites were cleared from the system.More recently, personality changes have been noted in those with chronic toxoplasmosis (Parasitology, 1996; 113: 49-54). Negative personality traits, noted in men and women, tended to increase with the duration of the infection.
Sidebar: Keeping clear of parasites
There is no single treatment for parasites. The parasite and the damage caused to your system must be addressed in equal measure, and so you will need to take a multifaceted approach. Once “cured”, you will need to maintain certain lifestyle changes which will prevent opportunistic parasites from taking hold again. It is more important to support the immune system than to attack the bug.
A supportive diet is a must. Ann Louise Gittleman suggests that a diet composed of 25 per cent fat, 25 per cent protein and 50 per cent complex carbohydrates is best to keep parasite free. The diet should be high in unrefined oils, especially flaxseed, which lubricate the intestinal tract making it difficult for bugs to get a hold.Vitamin A increases the resistance to tissue penetration by parasite larvae, so include lots of carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, yams and greens in your diet.
Food should be fresh. Processed and junk foods contain chemicals which will deplete the immune system.
Store your food properly. Fresh meats (turkey, chicken, lamb) and fish should be thoroughly frozen before eating to kill off larvae. Freeze fish at -18º C for at least 48 hours. Beef and pork should be frozen at -20º C for at least 24 hours to kill larvae.
Be a smart cook. Meat should be cooked in a conventional oven at a temperature of at least 325º F. Use a meat thermometer to check that it has reached an internal temperature of at least 160º F for beef and 170º F for lamb, veal and pork. If microwaving, check the temperature in several places to gauge whether the internal temperature is even.
Wash all produce thoroughly, especially organic foods which may be pesticide free but are more likely to harbour pests.
Have your tap water tested. Some local authorities will do this; otherwise you will have to send it off to a laboratory. Drink only filtered water. To filter micro organism cysts effectively, a fine pore filter of less than three microns is necessary. A study at Colorado State University showed that the following filters blocked Giardia cysts from tap water: Royal Doulton (model F303), Seagull IV (model x1F), Micro Twin (model 10 TOBC) and Everpure (model QC4). Changing the filter frequently assures your water remains uncontaminated. Never drink out of streams, lakes, reservoirs or ponds, no matter how clean it looks. All water should be boiled, or invest in a portable water filter.
Hygiene is important. Make sure you wash your hands after playing with animals, going to the toilet or gardening.
Test for parasites with a quality stool test. These are available at Panascope Laboratory (01132 924657) in the US or the Great Smokies Lab in the US.
Use herbal remedies. These can be very effective and produce fewer adverse effects. Herbal capsules may have only a limited effect since they work mainly on those parasites which inhabit the GI tract. Tinctures may be more effective since even a weak system will still be able to absorb liquids. The most tried and tested herbals are wormwood, as well as black walnut hull and garlic.
The Ayurvedic herb pippali rasayana has been shown to be effective against Giardia. In a small clinical trial, 23 out of 50 participants were completely cleared of the parasite over a period of 15 days (J Ethnopharmacol, 1997; 56: 233-6).
Try homoeopathy. The following remedies are thought to be effective: Chelidonium for liver flukes; Chenopodium for hookworm/roundworm; Cina for threadworm; Felix mas for tapeworm; and Santimonium for roundworm/threadworm. Homoeopathic tissue salts, such as calcium phosphate, natrum sulphate and sodium phosphate may also be helpful in supporting a system damaged by parasites.
Be patient when using alternative remedies. You will need to persist for two months or so with your therapy, even if you begin to feel better, since most will kill the adult parasite but not the eggs. You need to take medication over the entire life cycle of the parasite.
- This article first appeared in the June 1999 (volume 10 number 3) edition of What Doctors Don’t Tell You.
