Parasitic Diseases

Bird mites, also called chicken mites, are pests that many people don't think about. These tiny insects are a nuisance, nonetheless. They typically live on the skin of different birds including chickens but can find their way into homes and other structures. This is when they can become a problem for humans. Think you have a problem with bird mites? Here's what you need to know, including what they look like, symptoms of a mite bite, and ways to prevent an infestation. Although bird mites are a pest, they aren't a parasite to humans. That is, they don't need human blood to survive. These mites are so small and minute that they're often overlooked and difficult to spot. An adult bird mite typically measures less than 1 millimeter (mm). If you spot a bird mite, you'll notice its white or grayish oval body, hairy back, and eight legs. After feedings, these mites can change color and develop a reddish hue. Some people confuse bird mites with bedbugs, but they have d...

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Outdoor activities like swimming and hiking are a great way to stay healthy. But they can also sometimes lead to rashes, sunburns, bug bites, and parasites. Leeches are a type of parasitic worm you might encounter in grasses and fresh water. These creatures can attach themselves to humans and feed on their blood. Leeches can also expand up to 10 times their size while feeding, allowing them to consume a lot of your blood at one time. Finding a leech on your body can be scary, but you don't need to panic. Following a few simple steps can help you calmly and safely remove a leech without any pain or complications from the bite. Your first step in removing a leech is finding it. If you spot a leech on your skin, check the rest of your body to see if any more have attached themselves to you. Once you find a leech, you can begin to safely remove it. You can also try these alternative methods for removing a leech: Using a piece of paper or a credit card instead of your fingernail. For t...

Every day, it's normal to lose between 50 and 100 hairs. But many people have about anywhere from 80,000 to 120,000 hairs on their scalp, so it's understandable why a few strands can go missing each day and it's not noticeable. While new strands typically replace those lost hairs, this doesn't always happen. Hair loss can be a gradual process that occurs over the years, or it can happen suddenly. It can be permanent or temporary, too. It's also extremely common. In fact, 80 percent of men experience male pattern baldness (MLB) by age 80 and over 50 percent of women experience female pattern hair loss by the time they're 80. Hair loss may affect people differently at varying points in their lives, and there are a few reasons why your hair may thin. Genes play a factor in pattern baldness for both men and women. Other reasons include medical treatments, stress, age, and overstyling. Some people may even experience temporary postpartum shedding. But regrowing ha...

© Stryjek Here, we use science to dissect some of the rumours about the side effects of the AstraZeneca and Oxford University vaccine The Oxford and AstraZeneca vaccine was proven at Phase Three, the final stage of clinical trials, to be 70.4% effective against COVID-19. In practice, it's actually above 80% effective. Especially when the doses are given with twelve weeks in between them. And one dose alone holds at 76% efficiency, for three months. Dr Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, explained: "The best we've ever done is measles, which is 97 to 98 percent effective. That would be wonderful if we get there. I don't think we will. I would settle for 70, 75% effective vaccine." To get to Phase Three, atleast 20,000 people must be seen to take and survive the vaccine. The Phase Three trial for AstraZeneca included 24,000 people, from different ethnicities and countries across the world. This in...

The obesity epidemic is no more a secret in this world, as almost 40 percent of the world's population is facing the issues of being overweight. While people are trying hard to combat the weight gain, there is still a lot more effort to be done to get healthier lifestyle. Sometimes, losing weight is not simple for some individuals. No matter how much they work out or follow a calorie deficit diet routine, they need some extra help to shed off the excess weight. One of the approaches that people follow, especially women, is to use Anavar. Click Here to Buy Anavar If you are an obese woman and are looking your options to give Anavar a try, you should definitely read this article. Anavar is an anabolic steroid that potently helps in losing weight, but you must be fully aware of all its effects it can have on your body. In this post we will cover everything about Anavar rgar women need to know before using it. Check out the detailed review about Anavar below: Anavar, also termed as Oxa...

Like most drugs, Opdivo may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects. These lists don't include all possible side effects. Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on: your age other health conditions you have other medications you may be taking Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Opdivo. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects. Mild side effects Here's a list of some of the mild side effects that Opdivo can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Opdivo's medication guide. Mild side effects of Opdivo that have been reported include: Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. * For more information about this side effect, see the "Side effect focus" section below. Serious side effe...

Roundworms are a parasitic group of organisms causing infestation in the human body. Ascariasis, hookworms and pinworms are the most common roundworms in the body. They live, grow and utilise nutrients from the human body. What causes a roundworm infection? Roundworm eggs live in faeces-contaminated soil. Animals can transmit roundworms as well. If a child swallows a roundworm egg, it passes down to the intestine and hatches into larvae. Larvae get into the bloodstream and travel to different parts of the body through the lungs, up to the throat. They are then swallowed again and return to the intestine where they grow into adult worms, and come out through faeces. Roundworms can live in the small intestine for years. Most of the time, children do not exhibit any symptoms. When parents discover worms in their child's stool, they know he or she has worms. Signs and symptoms Most children with roundworm infections do not have any signs and symptoms. Some can have stomach pa...

Research has suggested that the absence of parasite infections may be linked to an increased prevalence of inflammatory conditions. According to a new review of existing studies, parasites may have anti-inflammatory properties that may help prevent aging. Controlled restorative therapies can be beneficial for regulating a proper immune response. Through centuries of evolution, the human body and its surrounding environments have adapted to improve health and promote longevity. For example, the increasing emphasis on hygiene has been effective in combating parasites that cause disease. These changes have been crucial, as evidenced by the greater life expectancies and lower disease rates in certain regions of the world. However, these benefits come with trade-offs. Parasites and humans share a long history of coexistence. It is likely that the human immune function developed in relation to parasitic mechanisms. The " old friends " hypothesis states that these parasites were lik...

Swallowing pills is never fun. No matter how many beneficial vitamins or essential oils they may contain, pills can be a pill to take. The creators of "gummy" vitamins and supplements know this well. But there are some core questions that people with type 1 diabetes should consider before jumping in on the gummies craze. First, gummy vitamins actually effective? And secondly, are the inevitable extra grams of sugar that come with them worth it? Here we'll take a closer look at the finer details of gummy-based vitamins and supplements. "The first gummy was made by a company called "Yummy Bears" that started about 23 years ago," explained Audrey Koltun, a registered nurse and diabetes educator in the division of pediatric endocrinology of Cohen Children's Medical Center in Lake Success, New York. "In my work, it seems to have become hugely trendy in the last 5 to 8 years. It's just exploded," Koltun told DiabetesMine. "There are g...

Rashes can cause irritation and discomfort. Rashes in very visible places such as your hands or face might even cause embarrassment. Fortunately, most rashes are mild and not a cause for concern. You can generally treat a rash with over-the-counter (OTC) remedies. However, there are rashes that a medical professional should look at. These rashes might be a sign of an infection, allergic reaction, or disease. You can read 12 common signs a rash might be a sign of something more serious below. An area on your skin that is itchy, irritated, and swollen is called a rash. A rash can be raised, bumpy, blistered, or patchy. Rashes can present differently depending on your skin tone. People with lighter skin often see rashes that are pink, red, or purple. People with darker skin might develop rashes that are white, gray, or darker than the surrounding skin. Rashes can be caused by many things including: underlying health conditions stress sun exposure allergic reactions weather Rashes are very...

Pic Credit:timesnownews In a bizarre incident, doctors removed an 18 metre tapeworm, which is said to be the longest ever worms seen in a man's rectum, in a hospital in Thailand. A 67-year-old patient approached the doctors after experiencing extreme stomachache and flatulence. The doctors first took his stool sample and reported that the patient was diagnosed with tapeworm infection after the sample was found to have 28 eggs. Then, the doctors prescribed him deworming medication that would kill the parasite overnight. The next day, the bloke oozed it out of his rectum in pieces. The doctors then laid the whole tapeworm out on a mat and it measured a whopping 18 metres (59 feet). Preliminary sources revealed the tapeworm was due to eating raw beef and pork. Now, the doctors have suggested the patient's family to take medical tests to find out if they also have the tapeworm infection. While there have been cases of huge masses of hairballs, scis...

Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, is one of eight vitamins in the B complex group. Even though it was discovered in 1932, scientists are still learning new things about it. Most people get enough B6 in their diet, but if you are deficient in other B complex vitamins, such as folate and B12, you're more likely to be deficient in vitamin B6 as well ( 1 ). Vitamin B6 deficiency is more common in people with liver, kidney, digestive or autoimmune diseases, as well as smokers, obese people, alcoholics and pregnant women ( 2 , 3 , 4 ). In your body, B6 is involved in more than 150 enzyme reactions. These help your body process the protein, carbs and fat you eat. B6 is also closely linked with the functions of your nervous and immune systems ( 3 , 5 , 6 ). More recently, it's been found that B6 has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This means that it may play a role in helping prevent chronic conditions like heart disease and cancer ( 5 , 7 , 8 ). Here are 9 signs and ...