African trypanosomiasis is another name for the condition of sleeping sickness. After a bite the infection spreads into the blood of a person and causes the appearance of minor symptoms. A parasite places itself in a human vertebrate host and settles in the blood, spleen, lymph nodes, and cerebrospinal fluid. It has no tendency to invade the cells but it aims to occupy the connective tissue in various organs. With the further spread of the infection the lymph nodes become swollen and congested and the whole condition is accompanied by fever.

Parasites inside the organism the parasites undergo immunological changes, actually, they mask themselves and thereby avoid being detected and destroyed as the immune system is unable to recognize them. Consequently, it leads to further pains and swelling, increased headaches, feeling of weakness and cramps.

When central nervous system gets involved and the brain is affected the whole thing becomes even worse and symptoms of sleeping sickness become more vivid. This means dullness, apathy, coordination problems, tremors, convulsions and further paralysis.

The further the illness develops the more sleepiness it evokes. Not only a person sleeps long hours and longs for sleep constantly but he or she can fall asleep while standing or eating. Further on coma follows, and death.

It is very important to report to the doctor any symptoms if there are suspicions. The earlier the treatment is started the better are the chances for survival. In case the symptoms are neglected and the treatment has not been started in time it is fraught with very severe complications, among which are cardiac failure, brain diseases and death.

A person will have to undergo several lab tests (i.e. a complete physical examination, also blood swear, CBC, albumin and globulin levels) in order to be diagnosed and further on treated rightly. African sleeping sickness is very hard to attend and the treatment is very stringent and severe. The illness has a tendency to worsen as the infection transforms and spreads further on in the body. That is why it is so important to start as early as possible.

There are medications used for treatment, but, unfortunately, there is no cure for the illness, no vaccine has been discovered yet. Periodical transformation of parasites makes it hard for the immune system to identify them and this also leads to difficulties creating necessary vaccine. However, if attended in time, the illness can be controlled with the help of arsenical drugs (i.e. suramin, pentamidine, and berenil). They proved to be effective, if given at the first stages of illness development, but their administration is very dangerous – they are toxic – and fraught with sever complications like heart, liver and nervous system damage. Moreover, the trypanosomes showed a tendency to become tolerant to these medicines.

One should remember, therefore, than it is not necessarily that every African fly is infectious. Still the risk is very high and especially if a tsetse fly has bitten you. Not only this bite is very painful but it is also becomes red and swollen on the spot. There is a little chance to find this disease somewhere outside Africa as it originally found only there, but the cases of being infected while traveling or after having a contact with a person who returned from there are possible.

Both the governments and health organizations have taken a lot of measures in order to educate and inform the population and to control and eradicate the illness but the progress is not very big; poverty and ignorance of people slow down the process. Nevertheless, it is essential for those who live in Africa to learn and know about the illness as much as possible. Insects and fly bites should be taken seriously and precaution measures not neglected. Knowing about sleeping sickness symptoms are also highly important in order to recognize it early and treat accordingly.

Toxoplasma gondii was the reason of infection of more than 60 million people. This parasite can be found commonly in cats’ digestive system and through their feces is transmitted. It does not make any considerable difference whether a cat is well-taken care of, cleaned and properly fed as it still represents a danger if it hunts. Cockroaches are able to infect a cat as well as flies, as household cats like to hunt and play with them so much. It will take only a several days for an infected cat to pass the infection. Moreover, people are frequently very negligent in the questions of hygiene and do not seem aware of the importance of rubber gloves while cleaning the litter tray. Noting is better for an infection as bare hands. Other possible ways of infecting are raw or undercooked meat, unpasteurized milk (especially goat’s one), sometimes fresh vegetables and fruits, and contaminated soil. People living in rural areas should also know that the sheep are also affected by this parasitic infection therefore certain preventive measures should be taken.

Toxoplasmosis can be congenital when an infected mother transmits the infection to her fetus while being pregnant. Parasites invade and infect by crossing the placental barrier. It is, therefore, frequent that neonates do not show any symptoms. The infection is very severe for a fetus as it is able to cause stillbirth or abortion, and evoke birth defects as well.

Therefore it is very important that pregnant women have nothing to do with cat litter boxes or anything concerning intestinal messes. Food (especially undercooked or raw meat) should be handled properly and hands are always washed. Fruit and vegetables should also be rightly washed and cleaned; unpasteurized products – crossed out of the diet, and cats kept safe away from children’s sandboxes. All the gardening activities should be carried out with care with consequent hygiene rules followed.

Toxoplasmosis is diagnosed by biopsy or by the presentation of a specific antibody for the organism. A combination of pyrimethamine and clindamycin (antibiotic) is usually prescribed as a treatment for the condition and it is considered a very effective one. Instead of clindamycin spiramycin and sulfadiazine can be used as well as folinic acid supplementation. Pyrimethamine has got its adverse effects (i.e. low numbers of platelets and or white blood cells) but they are easily relieved if a treatment is properly coordinated. It is very important to know that the condition of toxoplasmosis can be very dangerous for a person with weakened immune system. Such people require treatment in the first place as neglect can be fraught with such consequences as abnormalities and death.

The intestines, the gastro-intestinal tract and in some cases the lungs become affected by roundworms. They are more frequently found in kids who due to their age underestimate the importance of hygiene and like to play with potentially contaminated things. Roundworm eggs get inside the body through the contaminated food, water and soil and cause infections. The symptoms then observed fully depend on the type of the worm and its number.

An infected person usually experiences weight loss, diarrhea, pains in the abdomen, and feeling of fatigue; allergic reactions are also possible. Adults were reported to have problems with sleeping and development of anorexia nervosa; kids can suffer from malnutrition.

Infected person can show the sighs of flu, experience vaginal or anal itching. If the infection was caused by hookworm and whipworm blood or black colored stools are possible. Severe roundworm infection in children may lead to appearance of worms in bed and stool. It is not necessarily that the symptoms will show up in full but weight loss, lack of appetite and diarrhea are sure reasons for worry in the first place.

Roundworms in humans are treated with the help of anti-parasitic drugs. Depending on the type of the roundworms certain drugs are prescribed and they are generally quite effective. They have contraindications, however, as any other drug, and pregnant women, for instance, are not recommended to take them. Infection caused by a roundworm can be chronic and therefore require different approach in the treatment.

But better than think of how to get rid of the roundworm infection it is to prevent it. The major thing is hygiene. You should avoid any risk of contaminated food, water and soil. Everything what concerns washing and cleaning should be done properly and children should be taught to follow hygienic rules. It is also recommended to stick to a healthy diet and be careful while cooking meat or fish.

Sushi can be differentiated between nigiri sushi, maki sushi and sashimi. The first ones are heaps of sticky rice wrapped or accompanied with seafood mostly; the second are made with thin sheets of dried seaweed and rice and other stuff; the third represent sliced raw fish served with spices. It is also impossible not to mention three main condiments when we speak about sushi. They are soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger. They add a lot to the taste and authenticity of the dish.

But as much as you can love sushi there is something to think about. Common sushi ingredient is raw fish and the latter is considered one of the seven foods that are more likely to cause infections (according to the data of California Health Services). Thus, even if sushi raw fish differs from the ordinary raw fish it still requires attention.

There are researches on the account of seafood safety and they are considered as such, in some cases even safer than meat. This is good news; bad news is that this fact does not guarantee the absence of parasites in your sushi. Good for you if you meet tapeworm, fluke, or flatworm in raw fish. They will do no harm and you will probably be oblivious of their presence. The most common symptoms of their infection are nausea, cramps, and diarrhea. But another story if it is the roundworm. It is able to enter your intestines, evoking severe inflammation and pain that can be taken as appendicitis or an ulcer. The condition is not easy to attend – it can require an endoscope or surgery.

The best way to secure yourself against the risk of such infection is to make sure your fish was frozen for 72 hours at 4 degrees Fahrenheit and this is not something that a normal refrigerator can reach.

So what you can do if you like sushi is eat sushi in good restaurants and bars or make them with cooked fish. Pregnant women or people with weak immune system are also not recommended to eat raw fish.

Common tapeworm can be found everywhere but mostly in rural surroundings and third world countries with hygiene and healthcare problems. Especially frequent cases of infection are in the places where pigs feed and walk around freely. Infection is rare in the U.S. and almost singular in Muslim countries because of their eating habits prohibiting them eating pork meat.

The condition of cysticercosis can happen after swallowing pork tapeworm eggs by accident. They are able to travel via food, water, or surfaces contaminated with feces and can appear in a person’s body if he or she swallows food or water or touches the mouth with dirty hands. Inside the body the worm eggs thrive, grow and spread; they are able to reach the muscles, eyes or brain traveling via bloodstream and lymphatic system.

If cysticerci appear in the muscles they will probably show no symptoms apart from small lumps under your skin. In case when cysticerci appear in the eyes this is fraught with more complications like blurred vision or in the severest case detachment of retina. Neurocysticercosis, or case of cysticerci in the brain or spinal cord, is very serious indeed. The most common symptoms of this infection are seizures and headaches but their intensity depends on the number of cysticerci, or lesions, found in the brain. Symptoms also show up when cysts die. This may happen after a long time (after years and months) and is characterized by brain swelling. In some severe cases the infection can lead to death.

It is not easy to make a diagnosis of this condition and it requires a compounding of testing means. It is important to know as much about the illness history as possible, especially if the disease could be induced by some travel experience. Also information about eating and other lifestyle habits are vital. Generally the condition is diagnosed by MRI or CT brain scans; blood tests are also involved, and surgery in some rare cases.

The infection caused by pork tapeworm is treated with the help of anti-parasitic drugs (vermifuges) in combination with anti-inflammatory drugs; in some severe cases surgery can be carried out. The latter is used when a person is not responsive to the treatment with medications or in order to reduce brain swelling. Cysticercosis of not every type requires to be cured; often it depends on how many cysts have already had time to form and how big their influence is. One single lesion does not require special treatment but a number of them do need a complex therapy.

Helminth eggs can be found in food and water as well as in faecal matter, in pets and other animals, in toilets and on door handles. They appear in human body via mouth, also nose and anus and settle inside in the intestines, where they grow and multiply; rarely they can spread to other parts of the body.

In order to recognize the condition a full medical history is required as well as a physical check-up and a row of other tests. It is generally treated by some vermifuges (anti-worm drugs) that are specially designed to eliminate worms.

In order to prevent the condition some simple recommendations should be followed. They concern keeping your hands washed and clean, also cleaning kitchen and bathroom and being careful while cooking (especially meat); and using chlorinated water, if possible.

There are different types of helminthes. Let’s start with roundworms. They generally breed and thrive in the intestines. The eggs of roundworms appear in the body via contaminated water or food and also as a result of dirty hands that had a contact with contaminated object. Roundworms affect a person in a way that he or she looses appetite, experiences pain in abdomen, often suffers from diarrhea and feels exhausted. The condition requires treatment otherwise such complications as anemia and malnutrition can develop.

Another helminth representative is pinworm (other names: seatworm and threadworm). It enters the body via anus, with inhaled air and a result of dirty hands that had a contact with contaminated object as well; it stays in intestines mostly but can enter vagina in females. It causes anal itching, discomfort in the stomach and paleness of the skin; but it is not considered dangerous or life-threatening. It just requires medication treatment and can be cured in a couple of days.

Trichina spiralis represents another parasite. It is able to lead to serious complications – an illness of trichinosis. The worm eggs appear in the body through some meat that was raw or poorly cooked; it stays in intestines and then is able to spread to other parts of the body via bloodstream and lymphatic system. Furthermore it can appear in the muscles, the heart and the brain and lead to death. It causes vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps followed by more severe symptoms like a high fever, swelling of the face and pain in muscles. The condition in some cases can be diagnosed only after biopsy and requires compulsory treatment with such an anti-worm medication as thiabendazole. The patient is also recommended bed rest and constant doctor’s supervision as the whole treatment-recovery process can last up to several months.

Tapeworms are also very frequent parasites. And although the condition does not show any obvious symptoms it can cause abdominal pain, fatigue, diarrhea, and loss of weight. Tapeworm is usually found in raw or poorly cooked meat (beef). With the proper medications the condition can be treated in a period of couple days.

Flukes are parasites that can affect different body parts, among them spleen, the intestines, rectum, liver, bladder, lungs and veins. This worm is found in freshwater snails initially and can enter the human body through penetrating the skin when a person swims or bathes. The condition is called schistosomiasis, or bilharziasis, and does not usually reveal any symptoms but in cases of the second or the third infection the liver, bladder, intestines and lungs can be seriously damaged. Sometimes the worm appears in the spinal cord or brain and this leads to paralysis and seizures. It is generally wide-spread in the regions of Africa, the Carribean, South America and in the Middle East.