Parasites are living things that use other living things - like your body - for food and a place to live. You can get them from contaminated food or water, a bug bite, or sexual contact. Parasitic diseases can cause mild discomfort or be deadly.
Parasites range in size from tiny, one-celled organisms called protozoa to worms that can be seen with the naked eye. Some parasitic diseases happen in the United States. Contaminated water supplies can lead to Giardia infections. Cats can transmit toxoplasmosis, which is dangerous for pregnant women. Others, like malaria, are common in other parts of the world.
If you are traveling, it's important to drink only water you know is safe. Prevention is especially important. There are no vaccines for parasitic diseases. Some medicines are available to treat parasitic infections.
- A-Z Index of Parasitic Diseases(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/
- About Parasites(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/aboutparasites.htm
- Bad Bug Book: Foodborne Pathogenic Microorganisms and Natural Toxins Handbook(Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition) - http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~mow/intro.html
- Germs: Understand and Protect against Bacteria, Viruses and Infection(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/germs/ID00002/METHOD=print
- Parasites and Foodborne Illness(Dept. of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service) - http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Parasites_and_Foodborne_Illness/index.asp
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Understanding Microbes in Sickness and in Health
(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) - Large PDF file - http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/microbes/PDF/microbesbook.htm
- Diagnosis of Parasitic Diseases(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/public/geninfo_diagnosis_diseases.htm
- O&P Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/op/test.html
- Healthy Swimming(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/
- Risks from Food and Water (Drinking and Recreational): Health Information for International Travel(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/yellowBookCh2-FoodWaterRisks.aspx
- Why Is Handwashing Important?(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r2k0306c.htm
- Acanthamoeba Infection(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/acanthamoeba/factsht_acanthamoeba.htm
- Amebiasis (Entamoeba Histolytica Infection)(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/amebiasis/factsht_amebiasis.htm
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Ascariasis(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) - http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/ascariasis/
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Babesiosis(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) - http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/babesiosis/
- Baylisascaris Infection (Raccoon Roundworm Infection)(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/baylisascaris/
- Blastocystis Hominis Infection(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/blastocystishominis/factsht_blastocystis_hominis.htm
- Body Lice (Pediculosis)(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/lice/body/index.html
- Cercarial Dermatitis: Swimmer's Itch(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/cercarialdermatitis/factsht_cercarialdermatitis.htm
- Cyclospora Infection(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/cyclospora/factsht_cyclospora.htm
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Cysticercosis(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/cysticercosis/factsht_cysticercosis.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/cysticercosis/factsht_cysticercosis-spanish.htm
- Dientamoeba Fragilis Infection(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/dientamoeba/factsht_dientamoeba.htm
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Echinococcosis(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/infections/common/parasitic/749.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/infections/common/parasitic/749.printerview.html
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Hookworm Disease(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) - http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/hookworm/
- Onchocerciasis(Merck & Co., Inc.) - http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec17/ch196/ch196m.html
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Parasitic Roundworm Diseases(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) - http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/parasiticRoundworm/default.htm
- Pubic "Crab" Lice (Pthiriasis)(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/lice/pubic/index.html
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Strongyloidiasis(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) - http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/strongyloidiasis/
- Tapeworm Infection(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/tapeworm/DS00659/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Toxocariasis: Roundworm Infection (Zoonotic)(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/toxocara/factsht_toxocara.htm
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Whipworm Disease(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) - http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/whipworm/
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Pets and Parasites(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/infections/common/parasitic/261.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/infections/common/parasitic/261.printerview.html
- Parasites and Health(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.dpd.cdc.gov/dpdx/HTML/Para_Health.htm
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Parasitic Diseases(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Parasitic+Diseases%22
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Predicting the next pandemic. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18810803&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Inflammatory bowel disease and infection concerns. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18802973&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Eosinophil cationic protein, soluble egg antigen, circulating anodic antigen, and... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18784236&tool=MedlinePlus
- Parasitic Diseases -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=parasitic+diseases[majr]+NOT+(enterobiasis[mh]+OR+malaria[mh]+OR+AIDS-related+opportunistic+infections[mh]+OR+scabies[mh]+OR+lice[mh]+OR+parasitic+diseases,animal[mh])+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+AND+(patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-borne, and Enteric Diseases, Division of Parasitic Diseases(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/
- Amebiasis(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/parasitic/amebiasis.html
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Ascariasis(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/stomach/ascariasis.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/infecciones/ascariasis_esp.html
- Pubic Lice(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/parasitic/pubic_lice.html
- Stool Tests(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/sick/labtest8.html
- Toxocariasis(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/parasitic/toxocariasis.html
- Chagas Disease - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/chagasdisease.html
- Cryptosporidiosis - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cryptosporidiosis.html
- Food Contamination and Poisoning - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/foodcontaminationandpoisoning.html
- Giardia Infections - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/giardiainfections.html
- Head Lice - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/headlice.html
- Malaria - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/malaria.html
- Pinworms - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/pinworms.html
- Scabies - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/scabies.html
- Toxoplasmosis - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/toxoplasmosis.html
- Traveler's Health - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/travelershealth.html
- Trichomoniasis - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/trichomoniasis.html
- Infections - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/infections.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Parasitic Diseases is the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - http://www.niaid.nih.gov/
Parasitic Diseases - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/parasiticdiseases.html