Do you have intestinal parasites? Gastroenterologist shares common symptoms to be aware of

Parasites in the intestines. Sounds alarming right? If a gastroenterologist's words are to go by then it is. According to Dr Joseph Salhab, a gastroenterologist with a following of 1.5M on Instagram, you could be having intestinal parasites with certain symptoms and could be suggested a parasite cleanse to heal it.

In his post going viral on the internet, the doc shared how many patients are recommended parasite cleanses for intestinal parasites and how they are "just laxatives and anti-bloating herbs' and don't treat the real infection. He added how the symptoms of the condition could be similar to a variety of other gut problems and mixing the two patients could be recommended "parasite cleanses" with a mix of laxative herbs, antimicrobial plants, diet changes and placebo effects that make them feel lighter and lead them to believe that the cleanse worked.



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'Real cases usually need prescription antiparasitic medications like albendazole, ivermectin, or metronidazole,' he wrote in the caption.



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What are intestinal parasites, what are their symptoms and how do they heal? Know all below!

What are intestinal parasites?

Image credits: Getty Images

Intestinal parasites include worms and single-celled organisms that live in the intestines and live off other organisms. Including helminths and protozoa, these parasites live in the digestive tract and consume nutrients from their host.

Helminths include roundworms and flatworms which thrive and grow in the body but can't reproduce. They lay eggs inside the body which exit through the feces.

Protozoa, are the most commonly infecting intestinal parasites in the US and they can reproduce inside a human host.

Both of these enter the body unknown to you through contaminated water, fruits or vegetables.

What are the symptoms of intestinal parasites?

According to Dr Salhab, symptoms of the parasites include diarrhea, bloating, gas, abdominal cramps, nausea and fatigue. They can cause numerous damages to the body in the form of dehydration, malnutrition, anemia, bowel obstruction and more.

How are intestinal parasites treated?

Well, as per the doc, cases of parasitic infections are pretty rare in the US and are mostly diagnosed by stool tests and not symptoms alone. So if you are self-diagnosing or your doctor is misdiagnosing you then a stool test is a key sign to look for as the eggs of these parasites are visible through a microscope to signal infection.

However, in any case, these infections are treated through medications including antiparasitic drugs and not herbal cleanses promoted on social media. Those can rather lead to side effects such as dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, or even liver toxicity from concentrated extracts.