Blastocystis Hominis

Blastocystis Hominis General Information

Those microscopic parasites found in the stools of some people who present abdominal pain, skin problems, diarrhea or other gastrointestinal problems (allergies, bowel complaints, or immune system difficulties) are called B. hominis. These microorganisms are responsible for the appearance of Blastocystis Hominis. This organism is said to be a weak one and usually attacks people who have an immune system that is very weak or a digestive tract that also presents weakness. It is not very sure yet if Blastocystis Hominis is really an infection that causes abdominal symptoms and signs. The parasites appear almost all the time along other microorganisms that is possible to be the actual cause of all manifestations that are very often associated with the disease itself. Specialists use to call the disease blastocystosis. This is why the scientists are not very sure if the parasite causes this disease or only serves to indicate the presence of other agents that are guilty with the diarrheal manifestations. These kinds of infections are really common and everyone can get infected. The most affected persons are those who often travel to developing countries, where sanitation is not proper for a decent living or the water may not be that safe to be consumed, picking up from there the parasite which is very common met in the samples of stools. It is probable to find these parasites in connection with others, for example harmful bacteria or candida. The disease can be caused by the connection between the parasite and somebody's digestive illness.

Blastocystis Hominis Symptoms

A big percentage of the people suffering of Blastocystis Hominis, especially the healthy ones, do not present any signs or symptoms. This tiny organism behaves as any other microscopic parasite and hunts other microbes in order to eat them and to ensure to him a longer life inside its host’s body. It is believed by some experts that B. hominis parasite is not the one responsible with the signs and symptoms of the disease. It is not well known how Blastocystis Hominis transmits from person to person, but some specialists say that through oral-fecal contact. What is certain is that the risk of getting Blastocystis Hominis is increasing in the areas where there is no sanitation or very inadequate and the personal hygiene is really poor. Usually, the symptoms appear in people with a weakened immune system and with a not very good digestion. There are some symptoms and signs that are very often associated with this disease, such as: abdominal cramps, anal itching, diarrhea, bloating, tiredness, nausea and vomiting, and flatulence (excessive gassing). Most of them are very unpredictable and appear and go without knowing. If your allergies, immune or skins problems and gastrointestinal disorders that come and go on and off, without you noticing very much. This parasite usually attacks when the individual is under stress or his or hers organism is weak. You should always put you immediately on the line because once you are better, the parasite can not do much harm, so that you are quite safe and protected.

Blastocystis Hominis Treatment

If you have the symptoms and the signs listed above that might indicate that you have Blastocystis Hominis call your health care provider and establish a close date for consultation. It is urgent to determine the exact diagnosis on time because it is relatively hard to get rid of Blastocystis Hominis owing to the fact that the parasites hide in the intestinal mucus and stick very hard to it, so eliminating them may be really difficult. Some cases do not require treatment. For example, if someone has the parasite in his stool but no manifestations of it being inside him, that person may not need a treatment. The mild symptoms of Blastocystis Hominis indicate that your illness will resolve by itself in a couple of days. But if you present symptoms, do not try to clear them up on your own. Sometimes, the medications are not very effective so that the symptoms may persist. In diagnosing Blastocystis Hominis is very important that your doctor knows about your medical history and other recent activities, for example, travels to developing countries and hardly after this he will perform a physical examination. You need to do a series of lab tests: endoscopy (only in the case when the fecal exam does not show the cause of your diarrhea), fecal (stool) exams using samples of your stools from various days, blood tests (to detect any form of resistance from your body, such as antibodies or parasite antigen in order to discover the presence of any kind of parasite) and scans (because a parasite can cause scarring or swelling of your internal organs): MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), X-ray or CT scan (Computerized tomography).

The possible medicines used to cure Blastocystis Hominis are the some antibiotics: flagyl (metranizdazole), yodoxin (iodoquinol, especially for antiprotozoal fights), and septra or bactrim (trimethoprim) combined with sulfamethoxazole. As in many other diseases, the efficiency of these drugs depends from individual to individual because their organisms have various and different reactions to some substances from these medicines. What you should always have in mind is that you must try to prevent and to watch out that you do not get infected with anything. All you have to do is to take some precautions while you travel to foreign countries that are still developing and their conditions of living are not at very high standards. It is very important to be careful what you eat! A meal must be very cooked, boiled or peeled. If it does not satisfy all these three condition, you better forget it. Worrying is that many people who travel consistently different parts of the world do not follow the rules and they often wake up ill in a foreign country. No matter how hungry you are, do not buy food from vendors that sell their products on street. The dairy products and unpasteurized milk must be also avoided. If you do not have nothing to eat and you are really starving, consume fresh vegetables and fruits that can be peeled by yourself (oranges, bananas, kiwi, pineapple, or avocado) and avoid as much as possible fruits like berries, strawberries, grapes, blackberries, bilberries, or gooseberries.