Intestinal Parasites To Avoid During Your Travel Abroad

It sounds pretty adventurous to be traveling to an exotic country and one that is developing. However, before you throw caution out of the wind, you must take certain measures so that you do not end up bringing home unwanted souvenirs. If you are do not practice enough care, you just may well end up with intestinal parasites that you carry in your body as a lasting memory of your time abroad. Yikes!

Your risk is high if the country you are going to is a subtropical or tropical one. In such a place, hygiene standards may not be all that high. There are a number of parasites that you can pick up from contaminated sources such as dirt, drinking water and even food. Poor hygiene practices, in restaurants or street vendors, can raise your exposure of parasites. There are probably hundreds of them that can be lurking anywhere, but the most common intestinal parasites that you are likely to encounter are types of worms: the roundworm, hookworm and tapeworm.

1. Roundworms – These parasites are typically transmitted through dirt. Soil contains the eggs of these roundworms and can contaminate vegetables and fruits that have been grown in this medium. Should you want to consume any fruits and vegetables, wash them thoroughly with clean water first. Refrain from buying prepared fruit dishes or salads. It is best to eat only cooked vegetables or fruit and prepared on the spot. Purchasing fruit from street vendors may sound fun, but you may suffer later if you do not exercise caution.

2. Hookworms – Hookworms are known to be able to penetrate most skin areas. Hence, always ensure that you have got proper footwear on all the time. Walking barefoot on a beach or soil that has been contaminated with the hookworm, thanks to dog or even human feces, can result in these tiny critters worming their way into your body and leaving a lesion on your skin.

3. Tapeworms – There are various forms of tapeworms and you can contract them in a variety of ways. For instance, you can ingest the larval form of the parasite by eating raw meat or meat that was not cooked properly. Or, a dog with tapeworm may defecate in the soil where fruits and vegetables have grown. Tapeworm eggs may also find their way to water sources. You may then pick up tapeworm eggs by accidentally ingesting some food or water that has come in contact with them.

Symptoms may not show up instantly. It may in fact take several weeks, before any discomfort starts to manifest. Hence, you may not even realize that your symptoms come as a result of your travels. Do keep a lookout for the following symptoms: abdominal cramping, diarrhea or constipation, gas and bloating, fever, loss of appetite, sudden weight loss or rash.

If you experience any of the above symptoms, see a doctor right away. Be sure to mention your trip and the places you visited. Review your diary of the foods you ate and some of your activities done during your travel. These may provide certain clues that can help your doctor with pinpointing the right intestinal parasite, and prescribing you the best treatment for it.