Being Alive Newsletter; December 1992
Brian A. Smith, DC

SYMPTOMS OF INFECTION

Parasitic infections may show a baffling array of symptoms, most of which are related to the gastrointestinal tract. The most commonly reported complaints are periods of diarrhea, alternating with periods of constipation. This may be accompanied by bloating, nausea, loss of appetite and other signs of an irritated bowel. Other symptoms not related to the intestinal tract may include night sweats, low tolerance to exercise, intermittent low-grade fevers, recurrent sore throats, low energy, more "allergic" type reactions and possibly behavioral changes.

WHAT CAUSES THE INFECTION?

Causative agents include the well-known "amoeba," which is actually a class of parasites including entamoeba histolytica, the most common, and endolimax nana, which is frequently observed. The "flagellate" class includes giardia lamblia and trichomonas hominis. Other causative agents include blastocystis hominis, microsporidium and cryptosporidiosis.html">cryptosporidium.

There are three main routes of infection. The most startling is drinking contaminated water. In the US, giardia is very prevalent in our water supply. Travelling to certain parts of the world may expose one to greater amounts of parasites than our body is able to handle. Did you ever wonder why the people living in these areas don't get infected? Their body has developed the strength necessary to prevent it! The third way is by exposure in restaurants where food handlers may be carriers.

DIAGNOSING AN INFECTION

Diagnosis usually includes a stool examination, either regular or purged. Unfortunately, these procedures do yield a high rate of false negatives. Also, different labs may have different parameters. Most do not report a large amount of blastocystis hominis if present, as this is considered a normal flora component. Rectal mucosal examination is usually quite reliable, as this surface becomes very delicate and easily bleeds and there is a lot of mucous secretion. A rectal mucus swab can be used to detect a parasitic infection. Other lab tests may include a sedimentation rate, which usually is increased and an eosinophil (a type of white blood cell) count, which is also increased. Secretory IgA may also be measured to determine the ability of the intestinal tract to fight infection.

TREATING INFECTION

Drug treatment is aimed at destroying the parasite. For amoebas, the most common drug is Flagyl (metronidazole). Side effects include nausea, headache, vomiting, insomnia and vertigo. For giardia, the drug used in Atabrine (quinacrine HCI). Frequent side effects are dizziness, headache, vomiting and diarrhea. Other drugs used include Humatin (paromycin), Furoxone (furazolidone) and Yodoxin (iodoquinol).

Non-drug therapy includes Artemesia annus (par qing), an oriental herb. Side effects may include bloating and gas. Also used in citrus (grapefruit) seed extract which is an anti-parasite agent. Since eradicating an infection may take three or four months, the treatment usually takes that long. This treatment is aimed at strengthening the body and killing the parasite.

DIETARY CONSIDERATIONS

Dietary guidelines include avoiding irritants such as alcohol and caffeine. Avoiding sugar, dairy products and fruit has shown to be beneficial. Fruit is usually considered a "good" food, but in this case, it is best avoided in the early stages of treatment. The diet should consist of complex carbohydrates, such as rice and potatoes, cooked vegetables and lean meats.

All salad ingredients should be thoroughly washed. There are specific cleaners available for greens that may help. This means that you should probably avoid ordering salads at restaurants for the time being. All water consumed should be filtered; do not drink water straight from the tap!

Supportive measures include supplemental bowel flora (acidophilus and bifidus), vitamin A and folic acid. Normalization of neurological and visceral reflexes by your chiropractor would be beneficial as well.

(I would like to thank Karen Bilgral-Cohen, DC, for providing much of this information.)

This article provides information only and should not be construed as a recommendation for a particular course of action. You should always consult with a knowledgeable health professional before beginning any treatment.

(Dr. Brian A. Smith is a chiropractor and may be reached at 310.559.6584 if you have any questions.)
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