Humans are hosts to nearly 300 species of parasitic worms and over 70 species of protozoa, some derived from our primate ancestors and some acquired from the animals we have domesticated or come in contact with during our relatively short history on Earth.
Does the average person have parasites?
Thanks in part to modern plumbing, people in the industrialized world have now lost almost all of their worms, with the exception of occasional pinworms in some children. Intestinal worms are properly called “helminths,” which most dictionaries will tell you are parasites.
Do all humans have parasites in them?
Not restricted to underdeveloped countries, parasites exist around the world and can afflict anyone of any race, gender or socioeconomic status. They can cause a myriad of symptoms, only a few of which affect the digestive tract, but the good news is that yes, they are treatable.
How common are parasites in humans in the US?
Parasites can usually be detected with a blood test or through stool analysis, and treated with anti-parasitic drugs or antibiotics. More than 300,000 American are infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes Chagas disease, and more than 300 infected babies are born every year.
What parasites are in all humans?
There are three main classes of parasites that can cause disease in humans: protozoa, helminths, and ectoparasites.
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