The number one reason, far and away, is the minimal amount of education medical students and residents get about the vast number of diseases caused by parasites. Very little is discussed about symptoms, diagnosis, and correct treatment. Most students never even see a parasite under a microscope. Physicians in the U.S. seem to think parasites are the diseases of “others” (foreigners, mainly, immigrants to be deported) forgetting that we take vacations, eat in restaurants, shake hands with people, and not everyone follows the rule of washing hands after using a restroom.
The second reason your concern is not being taken seriously is that your symptoms are vague and most labs checking your bowel movement (where most parasites set up shop) are really pretty terrible.
This list of the commonest symptoms of parasite infestation, from the Sydney Gut Clinic in Australia (specialists in parasite diseases) will, in the U.S., almost never merit a stool examination for parasites.
- Stomach cramps and pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dehydration
- Weight loss
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Digestive problems including unexplained constipation, diarrhea or persistent gas
- Skin issues such as rashed, eczema, hives, and itching
- Continuous muscle and joint pain
- Fatigue, even when you get enough slepe
- Depression or feeling apathetic
- Never feeling full, even after a big meal
- Constant hunger, even when you’re eating enough
- Iron deficiency/anemia
- Grinding your teeth during sleep
- Unexplained feelings of anxiety
- Recurrent yeast infections
- Itching of the anus or vagina
- Itching, redness, irritation, and an unusual discharge from the genital area
- Trouble falling asleep or waking up multiple times during the night
If you do manage to get a stool specimen to a micro lab, it generally is reported as “negative for parasites” because the techs receive minimal training in parasite identification. Sometimes the report reads, “Blastocystis hominis” and you’ll be told this is a “benign parasite” (which it is not!).
I wrote about a patient with Blastocystis and her quest for health in a Health Tip some years ago, “A Very Persistent Patient”. Things haven’t changed. To this day, most doctors refuse to treat “Blasto” because it’s perceived as benign.
For an excellent parasite exam, you need a stool specimen sent to one of the three
“powerhouse” labs: Genova, Doctor’s Data, Mosaic. Adding a test called “zonulin” will determine if the parasites have sufficiently damaged your intestine to cause “leaky gut”.
The third reason your concern with parasites is not being taken seriously is that you are becoming an annoyance to your doctors. The more often you return, the more you’ll be ignored.
When you start online to read about parasite diseases, your findings can get pretty spooky. When you point out to your doctor connections between chronic parasitosis and various cancers, diabetes, heart disease, systemic inflammation, you’ll simply be reassured your symptoms are all in your head and you’ll be asked if you’ve been taking your Prozac. But here’s a detailed article about the systemic diseases I’ve been referring to.
This seems like a reasonable place to mention a most controversial parasitic skin infection called Morgellon’s Disease, a/k/a “delusional parasitosis”, the most famous victim being singer Joni Mitchell. We’ve treated many Morgellon patients at WholeHealth Chicago, many successfully, some admittedly less so. Here’s one of the several articles I’ve written about it.
Our approach to parasites at WholeHealth Chicago is fairly straightforward. After a detailed review of your tests from previous health care practitioners, we’ll have a stool kit mailed to your home for a specimen collection.
Treatment depends on what parasite(s) are found and your preferences (herbs vs. prescription drugs). Among the herbs, here at WholeHealth Chicago, practitioners have their “favorites”.
For me, a good herbal program is by CellCore. This is $234.95 and has to be specially ordered. You can stop by one of our offices when it arrives, or it can be mailed to you for a small shipping fee.
If your Zonulin test is POSITIVE for “leaky gut”, we follow the CellCore Program with MicroBiome Labs Total Gut Restoration Kit #1, a 3 month program for $363.99, available through our website apothecary.
If symptoms are persisting after the herbal program, the next step is to see if any toxic metals (specifically lead and mercury) may be interfering with the treatment. This was discovered by
parasitologist Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt, founder of the Sophia Clinic in the U.K. If no metals are present, I prescribe Dr. Klinghardt’s short course combination of potent antiparasitic prescription medications: ivermectin, praziquantel, albendazole and pyrantel. The whole healing process can be “fast forwarded” by weekly ozone infusions with ultraviolet.
The initial treatment with prescription medications does necessitate an in-person appointment at one of our offices. The medications themselves are mailed to you from a compounding pharmacy.
Be well,
David Edelberg, MD