This could also be titled: So you think parasitic diseases are a third-world problem?
I've gathered some recent headlines about parasitic incidences and outbreaks right here in the very developed U.S. Parasitic diseases, especially the tropical types, are typically more commen in developing countries. This is especially true in children where their general health and nutrition is not optimal. But, parasites are alive and well anywhere there are animal (human and other) hosts. So read up. Comment on the following questions. What are the underlying causes and concerns in these outbreaks? What can happen when standard procedures are not followed or fail (ex., normal chlorination of water)? Should you be worried in your every day life?
http://www.shawneedispatch.com/news/2011/aug/29/disease-outbreak-prompts-shawnee-pool-close-early-/
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110817175920.htm
http://www.app.com/article/20110819/NJNEWS18/308190131/3-die-of-rare-brain-infection-from-amoeba-in-water
http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/about.html
There are many methods that parasitic organisms have evolved over the span of human kind's existence, which makes it a very difficult job to keep them away from us. Some examples of parasitic organisms are some Protozoans like some amoeba, Helminths (platyhelminths, fluke, cestodes, acanthocephalins and nematodes being some catetories where one can find a parasitic worm), and ectoparasites like arthropods that suck our blood, fleas, lice, and many more organisms who depend on us to live. One of the example of these methods is the parasite Toxoplasma gondii that makes infected rodents more likely to spend time near cat odors. It requires the cat digestive system for sexual reproduction. Infected rodents, with reduced fear response to cat odors, are presumably more susceptible to predation by cats, thereby enabling completion of the parasite lifecycle.
ReplyDeleteOther organisms have found other clever methods of infecting humans as well like by the way of our food and water or to just dissolve our skin with the enzymes they make to burrow their way inside us. These organisms are very dangerous and proper precautions have to be taken to stop their spread in human population. For example Johnson County had confirmed new instances of contaminated pools since announcing the Cryptosporidium outbreak earlier this month. They supper chlorinated the pools and shut them down until the outbreak was gone. This way they stopped one of the main methods of transfer for this parasite.
Although there are many sanitary and preventive methods that humans use today to prevent the spread of parasites, there are still some cases of parasitic infections that can not be avoided. For example the amoeba Naegleria fowleri gets up the nose, burrows up into the skull and destroys brain tissue. It’s found in warm lakes and rivers during the hot summer months, mostly in the South. We can't get rid of these protozoans unless we destroy the ecosystem and eradicated everything in pond waters. Also the cases where this parasite has been a problem has been as low as 2-3 cases a year.
Parasites will alway be there and develop more ways to live on or in us. All we can do is to live as sanitary as possible and just live our lives. There is not point becoming over obsessive about it because then we would halt our life. What is the point of living then if all we are doing is to worry about a parasite killing us.
Florence was right about good water and good health going together.
ReplyDeleteI won't be obsessing, but I will use sterile water in my neti pot from now on.
These outbreaks have varying underlying causes and concerns. Cryptosporidium infects a person who ingests or comes into contact with food, water, or objects contaminated by feces. It spreads easily from person to person. Toxoplasma alters the fear response in infected rodents, and is linked to schizophrenia in humans. It is found in undercooked meat or cat litter. Naegleria fowleri destroys brain tissue, and is found in warm lakes and rivers during hot summer months, usually in the South. Protozoa are transmitted through the fecal-oral route. Other parasites not only cause disease; they can also transmit disease that may be deadly to humans.
ReplyDeleteWhen standard procedures are not followed or fail, this can result in proliferation of the life of the parasite. Normal hygienic precautions are usually capable of preventing parasitic infection. But if the parasite does infect a person, severe side effects can occur, including diarrhea, alteration of normal brain functioning, consumption of body tissues, and other diseases.
One should be worried in everyday life if standard precautions are not taken or if one lives in an area where parasites are highly prevalent. We should take care to practice good hygiene, but should not live in a constant state of worry.
The underlying causes and concerns in these outbreaks are improper hygiene, but more importantly, uninformed people regarding their surroundings. If people realized how many diseases could be transmitted from person to person, undercooked meat, contact with cat litter, or fecal-oral route, then they would help reduce outbreak possibilities.
ReplyDeleteIf standard procedures are not followed, GI problems can occur, fetuses may be in danger, or even death.
People should not be worried in everyday life because they will go crazy thinking about every worst case scenario. However, people should become aware and try to be as aware of their surroundings and as hygienic as possible to reduce the possibilities of transmitting a disease.
A parasite is a nasty little organism that attacks a host and multiplies. Sometimes these hosts are humans and once theses parasites attack we may begin to feel ill and in many cases these parasites overwhelm our immune system and can cause serious illness. We can get a parasite from many places for example, Intestinal protozoa occur throughout the world and they are especially common in areas where food and water sources are subject to contamination from animal and human waste. Another very common parasite is amebic dysentery which often afflicts travelers who visit tropical and subtropical regions which is why we can see the concern that is arising about a possible parasitic outbreak. The best way to control these infections are to prevent them, and when standard procedures are not followed like filtering our water, practicing proper hygiene and cooking our meat thoroughly these parasites can become a huge problem.
ReplyDeleteWith that being said I do not think we should spend out lives feeling worried about contracting one of these nasty organisms, especially here in America. Yes these parasites do exists in our country but most people practice standard hygiene procedures and our likely hood of getting infected is not high. There are also many parasitic infections that can be treated with medication so in a worse case scenario we could be treated. If everyone does their part in prevention against these parasites than we wont have a need to feel worried.
So many things can be avoided with education and sanitation. The US is not without the same issues as many new emerging countries, we just seem to hide it better.
ReplyDelete