Articles

Helminths, protozoans and ectoparasites are pathogens that infect billions of people every year, including millions of Americans. They are an underlying factor for many health problems. These pathogens, commonly called parasites take vital nutrients the body needs, are a source of intestinal discomfort and inflammation, and can even cause death. Unfortunately, some practitioners fail to recognize the prevalence of these infections and the catastrophic damage they cause to the body. Becoming more aware of the symptomatology and the body’s response to these pathogens can aid in the proper diagnosis and thus improve patient outcomes. This article is meant to educate practitioners about the prevalence of these stealth infections, the inflammatory destruction they can cause in the body, and common nutritional deficiencies seen with these microorganisms, in order to transform how practitioners evaluate patients moving forward.