Intestinal parasites while traveling in developing countries

Even though we can contract an intestinal parasite in any country at any time, there is a much higher chance of contracting one in a less developed nation, such as India or Africa. It is believed that only famine and malaria cases outnumber intestinal parasite infections in these developing nations leading to extreme malnuturition and lack of energy in these citizens. The most upsetting things about this rampant infection of intestinal worms is that more than half of these cases are estimated to be in children.

So while many people from the industrialized nations look forward to world travels, including these countries so deeply infected with intestinal parasites we all need to be aware and take precautions so that we do not bring home an unwanted souvenir like a hookworm or intestinal protozoa.

picture of a hookworm

1) Avoid unclear water, try to always use bottled. Many intestinal parasites are transmitted by drinking unsanitary water or just using infected water to wash fruits or veggies.

2) Do not eat raw food because many intestinal parasites are killed by heat. If left uncooked or undercooked and then consumed you can contract an intestinal parasite this way.

3) Be very meticulous with your personal hygiene and sanitation, because person to person contact is very common. Wash your hands after changing an infants diaper who could be infected, wash your own hands after using the bathroom or even being in an unsanitary place such as a bathroom or just touching dirt because the parasites can simply live in the ground you have touched. Also, intestinal parasites can be contracted though unsafe anal sex, so protect your body when sexually active.

4) Take natural remedies (herbs) such as garlic or wormwood before leaving for your travels, so if you do accidentally contract something there is a much slimmer chance that it will stay in your body.

references: 

http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/11648/1/How-to-Avoid-Intestinal-Parasites.html

1. Goldmann DA, 
2. Wilson CM

. Pinworm infestations. In: Hoekelman RA,Friedman SB, Nelson NM, Seidel HM, Weitzman ML, editors. Primary pediatric care. 3rd ed. St Louis, MO: Mosby; 1997. p. 1519.

Bartlett AV, Englender SJ, Jarvis BA, et al. Controlled trial of Giardia lamblia: control strategies in day care centers. Am J Public Health 1991; 81:1001.

Drugs for parasitic infections, 2nd ed. The Medical Letter. 2010. http://secure.medicalletter.org/para (Accessed on February 17, 2012).