Parasites can live in the intestines for years without causing symptoms. When they do, symptoms include the following: Abdominal pain. Diarrhea.
Can you have a parasite for years and not know?
Protozoa are microscopic, single-cell parasites. Since they're invisible to the naked eye and don't always cause immediate symptoms, protozoa are much harder to detect. People can live for years not knowing they're infected.
How long can you have parasites for?
Symptoms generally last anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks. In people with weakened immune systems (e.g., due to illness such as HIV), symptoms may last longer. Healthcare providers can prescribe the appropriate antiparasitic medications to help reduce the amount of time symptoms last.
What happens if parasites go untreated?
Often they can go unnoticed, with few symptoms. But many times these infections cause serious illnesses, including seizures, blindness, heart failure, and even death.
Do parasites stay forever?
For most, it's a short stay, with the immune system evicting the worms in days or weeks and leaving no trace that the parasites were ever there. In a small percentage of people and other animals, though, the worms gain a permanent mouth-hold and can stick around the intestines for years.
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