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.
Can parasites go undetected?
Often they can go unnoticed, with few symptoms. But many times these infections cause serious illnesses, including seizures, blindness, heart failure, and even death.
Can you have parasites for years?
Parasites can live in the intestines for years without causing symptoms. When they do, symptoms include the following: Abdominal pain.
Can you have intestinal parasites without knowing?
Additionally, some intestinal parasites are large enough to be seen with the naked eye and may appear as white thread-like creatures in stools. While some parasites don't cause noticeable symptoms, some grow, reproduce or invade healthy functioning systems, making their hosts sick, resulting in parasitic infection.
What parasites can live in humans for years?
Tapeworm. Transmitted through infected food, a tapeworm attaches itself to its victim's intestine with hooks on its "head", or scolex. They mature over three to four months, during which time the reproductive organs develop. Tapeworms can survive for up to 25 years in humans.
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