Colon Parasites

The large intestine is the last part of the human digestive system and is mainly responsible for storing waste (fecal matter) and reabsorbing water. Only a few vitamins are absorbed here, but the large intestine hosts beneficial bacteria, which is responsible for the fermentation of food wastes that enter the organ from the small intestine. It is the action of this bacteria that converts the food wastes to fecal matter. However, the colon or large intestine provides an optimal habitat for parasites, which may not produce symptoms for a long time. An accumulation of waste in the colon can be harmful to the body. It can be more dangerous if the colon is infected with parasites. Even though parasites can live in any of the body parts, they prefer the intestinal wall due to the favorable environment.

What are Colon Parasites

Parasites are organisms that live in or on the body of a host and thrive upon the nutrients in the body of that host. In most cases, parasites cause harm to the host in the long run. Colon parasites are living organisms that live in the large intestine of humans and thrive on the nutrients in the human body. Apart from extracting nutrients from the body, these parasites affect the permeability of the intestinal wall and release toxins which are harmful to the body. The most common groups of colon parasites are helminths and protozoa. While helminths are worms (tapeworms, roundworms, etc.) which possess many cells, protozoa are single-celled organisms. Most of the adult worms are visible to the naked eye but protozoa (giardia and cryptosporidium) are microscopic. The single celled organisms multiply rapidly, causing serious infections. In most cases, parasitic infection is caused by ingestion of uncooked or unwashed food, drinking contaminated water and skin absorption through contact with contaminated soil.

Roundworms: One of the common colon parasites in humans, roundworms belong to the phylum Nematoda. There are various species of roundworms that can vary in size. While some of them are microscopic, some others may grow up to a length of around thirty inches. People residing in the tropical and subtropical regions are mostly found to be affected by roundworms.

Tapeworms: There are the largest among the colon parasites in humans. There are numerous types of tapeworms in humans and some of them may live up to twenty-five years and grow to a length of several feet. The most common types of tapeworms include beef tapeworms, fish tapeworms, dog tapeworms, dwarf tapeworm and pork tapeworms. In most cases, tapeworm infestation is caused by ingestion of raw or undercooked pork, beef or fish which are contaminated.

Hookworms: Hookworms too have different species and the most common among them are Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus. They generally enter the human body by penetrating the skin and may cause severe anemia, as they suck blood from the intestinal wall and damage the mucosa.

Toxoplasma Gondii: Apart from the above said helminths or worms, protozoa too infest the colon. One of the most commonly found colon protozoa is Toxoplasma gondii, which is generally transmitted to humans from dogs and cats. This colon parasite can cause toxoplasmosis with symptoms like fever, chills and headaches. In case of pregnant women with toxoplasmosis, severe birth defects may occur.

Giardia Lamblia: Apart from the above Toxoplasma Gondii protozoa, another commonly found colon protozoa is Giardia lamblia, which enters the human body through contaminated water and food. It causes giardiasis, which is characterized by diarrhea, bloating and cramping.

Besides these colon parasites, there are various other living organisms that can make their home in the human colon. They include protozoa like Entamoeba histolytica, Isospora belli and Cyclospora cayetanensis and worms like Trichinella and fluke parasites, fungus, virus and bacteria. The most common colon parasite symptoms include abdominal pain and cramping, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, bloating, flatulence, fatigue, weight loss and itching near anus. The symptoms may vary with the particular type of infection, but some of the affected people may not experience any symptoms for a long time. Various diagnostic tests (urine, blood, feces, sputum, skin, etc.) are conducted to find out the type of infection. Once the type of infection is detected relevant treatment is prescribed. Medication used to treat colon parasites are mebendazole, thiabendazole, metronidazole and praziquantel. It is also claimed that colon cleansing is beneficial to eliminate these intestinal parasites. Even herbal medicines are also used to get rid of colon parasites. However, it is always better to prevent their infestation through good hygienic practices.