Lake Chapala Ajijic Mexico Information

Staying Well at Lake Chapala

Read about one Lake Chapala expat’s battle with parasites:

(continued…) A parasite is an organism that lives off of a host. No organism is immune from this infestation. Everything living has at least one parasite that lives inside or on it, and many including humans, have far more. This comes from the August 2000 issue of Discover Magazine.

The most common human parasites are found in areas of a moist-warm climate: Africa, Asia, the Americas, Australia, Middle East, and southern Europe. They include the hook worm, round worm, pin worm, schistosoma, tape worm, and the whip worm that infests 800 million people worldwide.

If you suspect an infestation, a medical doctor can conduct a number of tests. They may include stool samples, blood tests, tissue swabs, and more. Doctors often misdiagnose the disease because symptoms mimic common diseases. Tests are inconclusive because parasites often are undetected. Some researchers believe that the existing tests are outdated and inadequate.

It is believed that in North American alone, 85-95% of the adult population have parasites in them but don’t know it. Some researchers are suggesting a link between parasites and cancer and other serious illnesses. Parasites are a serious health problem. There is a common misconception among medical people and the general public that parasites are generally a third world problem where malnutrition and poor hygienic practices exist. Nothing could be further from the truth. Contamination often occurs through eggs and larva passed on from food and water or directly from person to person. Washing of ones hands can control this factor. All fruits and vegetables that are not washed or cooked as well as rare or raw meat and fish are also high risk foods. Read more