In September 1992 the Associated Press carried the story, Worldly Worms! Traveling Parasites Leave Latin America to Afflict Big Apple. Four orthodox Jews in New York City had been mysteriously stricken with seizures. CAT scans showed pork tapeworm cysts in the brain, a most startling revelation, considering these individuals never ate pork due to their religious dietary laws. A Center for Disease Control formal investigation discovered the single common denominator in every case, a housekeeper originally from Central America where pork tape worm infection is relatively common. The investigator theorized that the housekeepers unknowingly carried the tapeworm eggs and infected the Jewish families by contaminating their food.

The shocking part is: this is not an isolated incident. Parasites are not a problem reserved for developing countries or the tropics. Parasitic infections are a major cause of illness in the United States, says Dr. Theodore Nash of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (Bethesda, Maryland) in a recent press release.

Actually parasites have been making headlines in this country for a while. In fact, they first surfaced in the 1990s in connection with the Desert Storm veterans. An article entitled Gulf War Parasite Halts Troop Blood Drive in USA Today (November 1991) stated that 540,000 American troops returning from Desert Storm were told not to donate blood because of the incidence of the parasitic disease Leishmaniasis, spread by desert sand flies. Diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever are symptoms of this infectious disease.

The word parasite again made headlines in 1993 when people in Milwaukee drank city water that was contaminated with a microscopic organism called Crytosporidium. As a result, 400,000 people came down with severe stomach ailments and diarrhea.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Cryptosporidium is currently the leading cause of waterborne illness in the United States.

WHAT EXACTLY IS A PARASITE?

A parasite is technically an organism that is receiving food and shelter at the expense of another organism without giving anything in return. On the contrary, parasites often irritate the gut, become tissue-invasive, create arthritic-type aches and pains, obstruct the GI tract, and sap energy. The problem in America today is that parasites seem like a foreign, third-world concern and so most physicians don't suspect or search for them. Their symptoms often mimic other more familiar diseases, like flu, for example. The important element, in my opinion, is to recognize the signs of parasite-based illness. One of the easiest ways to do this is to ask for a detailed travel history before the patient became ill. You would be amazed to find out how many trips to Mexico, Greece, Israel, India, and China provide clear-cut clues to chronic illness.

A number of seemingly unrelated factors unique to the late twentieth century have contributed to the unrestrained parasite epidemic and added to the increased risk of parasitic infection.

TRAVEL CONNECTION

Today more than ever before, American tourists are traveling to remote areas of the world. An affluent society is a mobile one. In 1990, 15 million Americans made international trips. Half of these traveled to Third World countries. More adventurous trips to exotic destinations like the Caribbean Islands and remote areas of Mexico, South America, Asia, Africa, China and Israel have replaced the old-fashioned grand tour.

Unfortunately, travel can be fatal. Malaria, the most virulent of the parasitic diseases, is on the rise both here and abroad. Malaria is a ruthless killer, responsible for up to two million deaths per year in over 100 countries. The rise of this disease is partly due to the fact that mosquitoes have become resistant to DDT and other insecticides. Drug-resistant parasites have also been found throughout South America, East Africa, and Southeast Asia. There are many documented clinical cases of travelers, including businessmen and foreign exchange students, who have been infected in other countries but did not manifest symptoms until after their return home.

Most of us expect less threatening conditions like bouts of diarrhea as souvenirs of world travel. We pack our Pepto-Bismol right along with our passports and think nothing of it. But if you visit St. Petersburg, Russia, you will find your Pepto-Bismol to be an inadequate remedy. The city's tap water is infected with Giardia lamblia, a microscopic parasite. Visitors to this Giardia City may take home severe diarrhea, fevers, chills, muscle pain, and intestinal bloating.

WATER CONNECTION

Steven Rochlitz, Ph.D., in his book Allergies and Candida, states, Giardiasis may be a rampant problem in the United States today, since 50% of our water supply is contaminated with it and, unlike bacteria, it is not killed by chlorination. Hundreds of small water systems throughout the country do not have adequate purification systems. And in urban as well as rural areas, streams and watersheds can become contaminated through infected human sewage.

DAY CARE CENTERS

The Centers for Disease Control has estimated (estimated because exact figure are not known) that every year, day-care centers are the source of nearly 20,000 cases of giardiasis. Since the disease can be spread through direct contact with infected feces, day-care centers provide a ready environment for transmission and have been referred to as the open sewers of the 20th century. Because giardia cysts lodge under the fingernails, the infection can be inadvertently spread by inquisitive toddlers touching dirty diapers and then contaminating toys, drinking faucets, and themselves with their frequent hand-to-mouth contact. According to Dennis Juranek, D.V.M., chief of Epidemiology and of The Parasitic Disease Branch at the CDC, roughly 20% of parents become infected themselves while caring for their sick children.

IMMIGRANTS

Parasitic infection is more associated with the tropics and the subtropical areas of the world because of climate and unsanitary conditions. Parasites are much more prevalent in immigrants from areas like the South Pacific, Mexico, South America, Asia, and Haiti. Recent immigrants to this country, who are often unskilled and unable to speak English but willing to work for minimum wages or less, very often seek jobs in kitchens where today there are no obstacles to their employment. I have observed that the majority of restaurant workers no longer wear hair nets or gloves when handling food, and often the same person who serves your food takes your dirty money. With this lack of basic sanitation in the restaurants of America, the exposure rate to infectious diseases is mushrooming.

ARMED FORCES OVERSEAS

More than the troops come home. Headlines such as Disease Is Cited in Veterans Suit graphically bring the awareness of parasitic diseases from foreign shores to America. From 1963 to 1975, thousands of troops returning from southeast Asia were carrying parasite-induced diseases that affected their intestines, lungs, liver, and central nervous systems. In 1985, five Vietnam War veterans filed a class-action medical malpractice suit against the Veterans Association for failing to properly test, diagnose, and treat them for parasitic filariasis. Filariasis, a disease endemic to southeast Asia, is caused by worms carried by infected mosquitoes and can lead to swelling of the lymph glands and a condition known as elephantiasis. Lawyers and doctors for the five veterans contend that hundreds to tens of thousands of Vietnam veterans might be suffering from this disease.

HOUSEHOLD PETS

Pets are host to numerous parasites and are often the unexpected spreaders of disease. There are 240 infectious diseases transmitted by animals to humans. Of these, 65 are transmitted by dogs and 39 by cats. There are 110 million dogs and cats living in America's households, making exposure to some of these diseases significant. One pet-food manufacturer says that 89 percent of all house cats in America sleep with their owners. Dog and cat roundworm, hookworm, and cat-transmitted toxoplasmosis can become severe in pregnant women and children and even life threatening in immuno-compromised individuals.

RESTAURANTS

The more cosmopolitan the city, the greater the proliferation of exotic restaurants. Our fascination with regional foods has led to an increased incidence of parasites. Exotic foods that are prepared raw or undercooked pose a significant parasite risk. Sushi...sashimi...steak tartare...cevich... Dutch herring. The CDC 1976 nationwide survey into parasitic diseases pinpointed a 100 percent increase in tapeworm infections in the preceding ten years. Tapeworm is transmitted in raw or undercooked fish, beef, and pork.

Antibiotics kill bacteria indiscriminately, both the good and the bad, upsetting the natural ecology of the gastrointestinal tract and vagina. This often leads to yeast overgrowth and trichomoniasis. Trichomonas vaginalis is a microscopic parasite that causes foul-smelling vaginal discharge, burning sensation, and inflammation.

In some areas of the United States, this condition is found in 50 percent of all women. It is sexually transmitted and when passed to a male partner can cause non-specific urethritis.

The sexual revolution of the late 1960s and early 1970s made it acceptable to have a variety of sexual partners and practices. The increase in the number of sexual partners also increased the likelihood of sexually transmitted parasites which include Trichomonas vaginalis, Entamoeba histolyticia, Giardia lamblia, pinworms, and pork tapeworms. The increasing acceptance of anal/oral sex among heterosexuals has opened the door to the spread of parasite infections because many of these infections are spread to hands, mouth, and body via fecal contamination.

AIDS

Parasites may be a cofactor in the development of AIDS. An article appearing in The New England Journal of Medicine draws a connection between the disease and epidemic outbreaks of amebiasis two years prior to the San Francisco AIDS outbreak. University of Virginia School of Medicine researchers point out that amoebas produce a substance that ruptures immune defense cells that have engulfed the HIV virus. Once those cells are ruptured, the virus spreads throughout the system. In addition, as a result of the AIDS epidemic, the incidence of unusual parasitic diseases, such as Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, cryptosporidiosis, and strongyloidiasis hava increased. These diseases can be fatal in the AIDS victim.

DIAGNOSIS

A stool sample (either random or purged ) is the most common way to find parasites. A technique utilizing rectal mucus has also been perfected and can be administered by some physicians. Many labs specialize in parasite testing. It is important to note, however, that even if the stool sample is negative, many doctors will go ahead and treat anyway based on symptoms. There is no fool-proof diagnostic method when it comes to finding these uninvited guests. A parasite questionnaire may be helpful.

As for treatment, some of the medications most commonly prescribed are Flagyl, Iodiquinol, Atabrine, and Vermox. Any one of these will usually rid the system of parasites if taken long enough. The major drawback is that many people suffer unpleasant side effects from these specific medications. These side effects include nausea, mental disturbances, and liver problems.

For those that opt for the natural route, many individuals report outstanding results from two herbal-based products, Paratox 11 and Paratox 22. The Paratox 11 is used for the larger worms (round worm, tape worms, and thread worms) while the Paratox 22 is best for microscopic organisms like giardia, amoebae, blastocystis and cryptosporidium. Paratox ll contains several herbal ingredients including pink root which was the American Indian's favorite vermifuge. Paratox 22 features grapefruit seed extract with cranberry as a base, plus other ingredients. Some people follow up the allopathic medium with these herbal preparations. The products are available through UNIKEY Health Systems (at 1-800-888-4353).

Prevention is the key. Since parasites flourish on sugar, it is important to eliminate it from your diet. This includes excessive fruit and fruit juices. The exceptions are cranberries, pineapple and papaya which contain anti-parasitic enzymes. A strong immune system will be your best ally in keeping parasite free. Keeping away from processed, fiber--depleted foods is essential. Instead, eat unprocessed, high-fiber foods that encourage elimination. Sage, cloves, fennel and thyme can be used in cooking.

Some foods eliminate parasites naturally. These include several cloves of fresh garlic or a couple handfuls of pumpkin seeds per day. These can also be taken until your condition improves or used for prevention purposes.

You can effectively prevent parasites through common sense. Be careful eating in strange, exotic restaurants where the food is undercooked or eaten raw. Instead, order medium or well done. Wash your hands before eating and after cleaning or after handling your family pet. Instruct your children to do the same. When traveling, take a good digestive aid and acidophilus product for the intestines and take along some Paratox 11 or 22 just in case!

Ann Louise Gittleman, M.S., is a Certified Nutrition Specialist and noted author. Her books include, Beyond Pritikin, Super Nutrition for Women, and Super Nutrition for Menopause. She is currently practicing in Bozeman, Montana. The office number is (406)585-9837 for those who would like an individual consultation or want to know more information on parasites.