Parasites—the hidden health factor many people never think to consider.
Parasites—the hidden health factor many people never think to consider.
Ever wonder why you're constantly tired? Why you're bloated, your digestion seems off, or you simply don't feel like yourself?
We often accept these things as part of everyday life. But sometimes it's worth asking:
Is this really normal—or is there something else worth investigating?
Parasites are far more diverse than most people realize. Some can live in the human body with few or no symptoms, while others can cause digestive problems, fatigue, nutritional deficiencies, anemia, fever, or—in certain infections—neurological complications.
And here's something many people don't realize: most people aren't routinely screened for every possible parasite. Testing is generally ordered when symptoms, exposure history, travel, immune status or other clinical findings give a healthcare provider reason to suspect a particular infection.
Over almost seven years of exploring wellness concerns with clients, parasites have repeatedly been an area that has come up in my Energy Testing work. Energy Testing isn't a medical diagnostic test, so suspected infections should always be confirmed through appropriate medical testing.
Some of the parasites and parasitic infections worth learning about include:
1. Toxoplasma gondii
A remarkably widespread microscopic parasite. Many infected people never experience symptoms, although toxoplasmosis can become serious during pregnancy or in people with weakened immune systems.
2. Taenia solium (Pork Tapeworm)
Can cause an intestinal tapeworm infection. If its eggs are ingested, larvae can migrate into tissues and cause cysticercosis, including neurocysticercosis when the nervous system is involved.
3. Fasciolopsis buski
A large intestinal fluke found primarily in parts of Asia. Infection is associated with eating contaminated aquatic plants.
4. Schistosoma species
Blood flukes responsible for schistosomiasis. Infection occurs through contact with contaminated freshwater in areas where the disease is present.
5. Giardia
A microscopic intestinal parasite commonly associated with contaminated food or water. It can cause diarrhea, gas, bloating and abdominal discomfort.
6. Cryptosporidium
Another microscopic parasite that can spread through contaminated water and cause significant gastrointestinal illness.
7. Plasmodium species
The parasites responsible for malaria. They are transmitted primarily through infected Anopheles mosquitoes and are especially important for people living in or travelling to malaria-endemic regions.
8. Hookworms
Intestinal parasites that can enter through contaminated soil. Chronic infection can contribute to blood loss and iron-deficiency anemia.
9. Strongyloides stercoralis
An intestinal roundworm capable of remaining in the body for decades. It can become particularly dangerous in people whose immune systems become suppressed.
10. Entamoeba histolytica
A microscopic parasite that can infect the intestine and, in some cases, spread beyond it—most notably to the liver.
What About “Brain-Eating Amoeba”?
Naegleria fowleri deserves its own category.
Despite sometimes being called a parasite, it is a free-living amoeba, not a typical chronic parasitic infection. It causes an extremely rare but devastating brain infection after contaminated water enters the nose. It should not be viewed as a likely explanation for ongoing fatigue, mood changes, brain fog or other chronic symptoms.
The Bigger Conversation
The purpose of learning about parasites isn't to assume every unexplained symptom means you have one.
It's about understanding that parasites are real, incredibly diverse and sometimes overlooked simply because there is no single routine test that screens everyone for every parasite.
If symptoms and exposure history raise legitimate concerns, appropriate medical testing can help determine whether an infection is actually present and what treatment, if any, is needed.
At Micheailin Belle, we believe in asking questions, looking at the whole person and remaining curious about what may deserve further investigation.
More to come…….