How Long Does Recovery From Intestinal Parasitic Infestation Take?

Posted on Thu, 10 Dec 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 9 Dec 2015 Answered on

Mon, 4 Jan 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : how long can you be infected with parasites? and if the symptoms are not that bad can they go away on there own or not? I have a daughter that is still in diapers and in a day care too..

Answered by Dr. Tushar Kanti Biswas (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Parasites infestation

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thank you for your query. I can understand your concerns.

It seems that you are talking about intestinal parasites infestation of your baby. Certain intestinal parasites cause mild symptoms or the person may remain asymptomatic for a long period but it will not get eradicated on its own. There are very effective de-worming drugs like albendazole, mebendazole, Ivermectin etc. Often a single dose is good enough to eradicate the parasites. What you have to do is to go for stool routine examination particularly ova,parasite and cyst. Once the nature of infestation is determined,treatment can be done accordingly.

Regards

Dr. T.K. Biswas M.D. XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Sonia Raina

Follow up: Dr. Tushar Kanti Biswas (12 hours later)

what are the main or most common symptoms of having a parasite?

Answered by Dr. Tushar Kanti Biswas (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Most common symptoms of having a parasite

Detailed Answer:

Parasite may be hemo-parasite e.g malaria.Symptoms in that case will be that of malaria such as fever with chills and rigor,headache ,body-ache etc.

Intestinal parasite infestations most commonly gives rise to loose motion or diarrhea,abdominal pain,at times vomiting i.e. mainly gastro-intestinal symptoms.

If you want to know symptoms due to any specific parasite ,please let me know.

Regards

Dr. T.K. Biswas M.D. XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Tushar Kanti Biswas (26 minutes later)

ok this is what's going on with me. I just have loose stool and sometimes diarrea. very minimal abdominal pain. I do have a daughter that is still in diapers so could that be a cause? I had this same problem about 2 years ago and then I just went away and now it seems like it's back.

Answered by Dr. Tushar Kanti Biswas (11 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Intestinal parasite infestation

Detailed Answer:
Your symptoms may be due to intestinal parasite.To confirm it ,get your stool routine examination done. Even if the stool report is not conclusive or negative,one can take a course of broad-spectrum anti-helminthic or de-worming drug such as Albendazole 400 mg orally at bed time (single dose) and to repeat the dose after 10 days, to break the feco-oral cycle.

Your daughter in diaper may be the source of infection as she is exposed to exogenous infection(going to day care center & coming in contact with other toddlers and care givers also).

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Tushar Kanti Biswas (13 minutes later)

can a parasite cause the white bloods cells in the stool? when I say loose stool, it looks like I'm digesting food properly.. never any blood in the stool that I can see..

Answered by Dr. Tushar Kanti Biswas (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
White bloods cells in the stool

Detailed Answer:
Presence of leukocytes/white blood cells in the stool suggests an inflammatory cause such as infection e.g acute or chronic dysentery including amebiasis caused by a protozoal parasite called Entameba histolytica.

Intestinal worm infestation generally is not associated with presence of white blood cells in stool .

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee