Types of Worms and Parasites that Live in Humans

There are literally thousands of different types of worms in the animal kingdom. They generally have long, slender bodies with no separate limbs.

Worms live in a variety of habitats: some worms live in the earth such as earthworms, others live in water such as the leeches and others live in a human host such as tapeworms.

The worms that live in humans or in animals are known as parasites. Parasites always live in or on their host. They eat the food supplies of their host and cause a wide range of conditions and symptoms that range from mild to severe.

Parasitic Worms feed on Animals & Humans

Parasites live in or on another organism called the host organism. They use the half-digested food that is found in their host’s intestines as their own food supply. Parasites use host organisms for their nutrients and thrive in environments where they have a ready supply of food.

Parasites cause damage and destroy the tissues of their hosts as well as producing their own toxic waste products that can cause a whole range of unwanted and often debilitating health problems. Hosts suffer from discomforts, infections and disease as a result of parasitic infection.

Some parasites are so small that they are invisible to the naked eye, while others grow to large lengths. When they are small in size, parasites easily travel around the blood stream finding suitable places to grow and develop.

Parasites in humans can cause a number of problems, including diarrhoea, fatigue, skin rash, nervousness, asthma, anaemia and more. It is estimated that there are over 100 different types of parasitic worms that can be found living in humans.

The word 'Parasite' itself comes from the old Greek word 'Parastos' meaning "a person or thing, which eats at someone else's table." This is exactly what a parasite does, it feeds off the host's body, whether this is animal, plant or human - hence the use of the word parasite today.

3 Main Types of Parasitic Worms

  • Flatworms such as Tapeworms
  • Flukes such as Blood Flukes
  • Roundworms such as Threadworms or Pinworms

Flatworms

Flatworms include Tapeworms and Flukes. Flatworms breathe and eat literally through their skin. Oxygen and nutrients literally pass through their skin. They have no separate organs for digestion or circulation.

Flatworms feed on the blood, tissue fluids, or pieces of cells inside the bodies of their hosts. Flatworms live on the skin, mouth, gills or other outside parts of a host, or they can live internally such as the ones that live in humans that infect the blood and organs.

Flatworms range in size from being microscopic to some over 20 metres long for example in the whale tapeworm. The most common types of flatworms that live in humans are Tapeworms and Flukes.

Tapeworms

Tapeworms live in human intestines where they feed on the partially-digested food in their host’s intestines. It is a fully protected environment and they grow and thrive in these conditions.  

Tapeworms are parasitic worms and are most often referred to as just parasites. They literally survive through their host’s nutrients. Parasites need hosts to survive.

Flukes

Flukes are a type of parasitic Flatworm. Flukes get their name from the way they look as they are flat and the word ‘fluke’ comes from a German word ‘flah’ meaning ‘flat.’ Flukes have at least one external sucker, which they use to attach themselves to their host.

Some flukes live on the gills, skin or outside of their hosts while others, such as blood flukes that live in humans, live internally in their hosts. Blood flukes are largely confined to very hot tropical areas such as North Africa and South East Asia and contribute to some extreme health conditions.

Roundworms

Some of the most common types of Roundworms include Pinworms or Threadworms, Hookworms, Ascaris (a word that literally means ‘intestinal worm’) and Heartworms.

Roundworms have hollow bodies and openings at either end and generally grow between 2-5 inches long. Roundworms are very commonly found in pets and animals such as dogs and cats and can be easily passed on to humans. Roundworms live in salt water, fresh water and the soil.

Eating contaminated foods or getting worms from contaminated pets is the most usual way to get roundworms. Hookworms and pinworms are some of the most common roundworms that are found in humans.

Signs of Infection from Parasites

People experience different signs of infection symptoms with parasite infections but there are some that are more common:
 

  • Persistent abdominal swelling is a frequent sign of hidden invaders.
  • Skin conditions can arise: Intestinal worms can cause hives, rashes, weeping sores and other allergic-type skin reactions.
  • Restlessness & anxiety. Parasitic metabolic wastes and toxic substances can serve as irritants to the central nervous system. Restlessness and anxiety are often the result of the systemic parasite infestation.
  • General lethargy and unusual energy level fluctuations.  
  • Constipation.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Frequent gas and bloating.
  • Bowel upsets.
  • Joint and muscle aches and pains.
  • Food allergies: Sometimes, parasites can irritate and even perforate the intestinal lining, so that large undigested molecules enter the blood stream, which would not ordinarily do so.

Parasites can Harm & Kill their Hosts

Sometimes, the host's immune system receives a small amount of damage from hosting parasites. Other times, conditions can become more severe and in some cases, parasites can kill their hosts.

Parasites often use transmitting agents such as fleas or mosquitoes. As in the case of the parasite, Plasmodium, which transmits the disease called Malaria via the Anopheles mosquito, which gets its name from the Greek for ‘useless.’

In 2008, The World Health Organisation reported nearly one million deaths from Malaria alone. Today, Malaria remains a real threat to thousands of people and is transmitted through the bites of a mosquito known as the Anopheles mosquito. Mosquitoes have a long proboscis or feeding tube which allows them to literally sucks the blood of their host.

How are Parasites transmitted?

Parasites can be transmitted to humans in several different ways:

  • Through transmitting agents such as mosquitoes, fleas and flies.
  • In the air we breathe.
  • Pets and farm animals are often carriers of parasites.
  • From contaminated food such as uncooked beef, pork, poultry and fish. Fruit and vegetables can also harbour parasites.
  • Poor water supplies  & sanitation can transit parasites. In areas where sanitation systems are lacking or undeveloped, parasites can be found to be prevalent.
  • Parasites also occur in mud pools, streams, rivers and other standing pools of water.
  • Bad hygiene in toilets and other public places can also be the cause.

How do Parasites Harm Us?

There is a 2-fold attack that Parasites make on their hosts. Not only do they consume nutrients from their host, thereby denying this to their host, but they also eliminate their own waste products into their host’s tissues and cells.

This double action of parasites can cause harm to the hosts’ tissues and organs as they weaken their hosts defence and immune systems. This makes the host more susceptible to illness and disease as well as any illness that the parasite itself brings to the host as in the case of Malaria.

Protozoa | Smallest Parasites but Deadly

Parasites come in all shapes and sizes. Tapeworms and Ascaris are some of the largest known human intestinal parasites and at the other end of the scale, are some of the smallest parasites of all called protozoa.

Protozoa are in fact some of the smallest animals in the animal kingdom. Most of them can only be seen using a microscope. The word 'Protozoa' comes from the Greek 'protos' meaning 'first' and 'zoa' meaning 'animals'. Yes, despite being small, they can still inflict a lot of damage on their hosts.

Protozoa breathe, move and reproduce by splitting into two. They often live in water or damp conditions and some of the most deadly protozoa are transmitted by flies and mosquitoes.

Amoebic Dystentry is an infection of the intestine resulting in fever, pain and severe diarrhea often accompanied by the passage of blood and mucus.

Amoeba are single-celled animals and some of them are parasitic and cause disease. They are usually found in water or food and cause a range of intestinal upsets that range in severity.
 
Another example of a parasitic infection that is transmitted through an agent is African Sleeping Sickness. This is carried by the protozoa called African trypanosomiasis - and is spread through the tsetse fly via the blood stream, spinal fluid and lymph. Fever, pain and sickness develops and if not treated, this parasite can cause death to its hosts.

Despite being the smallest of the parasites that infect man, protozoa are also some of the deadliest.

Can we Prevent Parasites ?

Unclean drinking water is one of the most common ways to get parasites. Even some sanitised water can contain parasites. Most parasitic infections come from our food and water sources but they can also be transmitted by human or animal contact.

Simply petting and grooming our pets can increase the chances of infection. The parasites' eggs pass from their fur to our hands, nose and mouth. Quite a number of parasites common to cats and dogs can also survive quite happily inside a human body. Some parasites (e.g. pinworms) can even be transmitted through the air and may be in the dust we breathe in.

It's quite likely, therefore, that those who live in the same household may all have the same parasitic infections, whether they currently show symptoms or not.

We can take sensible measures to ensure that we are not exposed to getting parasites, such as:

  • Always washing hands after stroking an animal.
  • Taking off outdoor shoes by the front door.
  • Showering or cleaning regularly.
  • Cooking meat thoroughly and ensuring that it is rinsed.
  • Ensuring the best possible sources of meat.
  • Reduce eating raw beef, pork or fish.
  • Wash all fruit, salads and vegetables before use and rinse all meats before preparation.
  • Drink water that has been properly filtered.
  • Regularly de-worm your pets or animals. Give them their own bedding! Try not to allow pets to sleep on pillows, sheets or towels.
  • Eat plenty of friendly probiotics as they help to eliminate unfriendly bacteria in the intestine.
  • Wash your hands when you come home from work.
  • Carry a hand disinfectant with you to use during the day.
  • When disposing of pet waste, make sure you wear gloves and or a mask, do not inhale close to it.
  • Minimise mould-build up at home & try to keep your home bug-free!


Natural food supplements such as Cloves, Black Walnut and Wormwood may help to reduce or remove parasitic infection. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding or currently taking any prescribed medication, please check with your professional health practitioner before starting on any course of natural supplements.


 

Related Articles:
Copyright Organic Nutrition