Parasitic worm
Flukes live in different locations in the body, including the intestines, bladder, rectum, liver, spleen, lungs and veins. Flukes first mature inside freshwater snails. After leaving the snails, they can enter the body of humans by penetrating the skin of persons swimming, bathing or washing in water where flukes are active. Infected persons can re-contaminate the water by urinating or defecating in it. Most infected persons experience no symptoms. However, some infected persons may experience rash, itching, muscle aches, coughing, chills and fever. Flukes pass out of the body, but persons can become infected again and again. In time, the repeated infections can damage the liver, bladder, intestines and lungs. In rare cases, flukes can invade the spinal cord or brain and cause seizures and paralysis. Fluke-caused illnesses are classified as schistosomiasis (also called bilharziasis) and are mainly confined to Africa parts of South America and the Caribbean, and parts of the Middle East, China and the Philippines.
The word “helminth” is derived from the Greek “helmins” (worm). Helminthology is the study of parasitic worms.
Read Also:
- Parasitosis
Delusional parasitosis, Morgellon’s disease.
- Paraskevidekatriaphobia
Fear of Friday the 13th. The word “paraskevidekatriaphobia” was devised by Dr. Donald Dossey who told his patients that “when you learn to pronounce it, you’re cured!”
- Parasomnia
A sleep disorder in which odd or dangerous events occur that intrude on sleep. The parasomnias include sleep talking, sleepwalking (somnambulism), sleep terrors, REM behavior disorder, and nocturnal dissociative disorder. Sleep talking may range from a word or two to an entire speech of which the sleep talker has no recollection; it is harmless. Sleepwalking […]
- Parasplenic
Located near or alongside of the spleen. This is a term defining an anatomic position The spleen is an organ located in the upper left part of the abdomen the stomach. The spleen produces lymphocytes, filters blood, serves as a major reservoir for blood and destroys blood cells that are aged. The prefix “para-” comes […]
- Parasuicide
An apparent attempt at suicide, commonly called a suicidal gesture, in which the aim is not death. For example, a sublethal drug overdose or wrist slash. Previous parasuicide is a predictor of suicide. The increased risk of subsequent suicide persists without decline for at least two decades.