In this post, I will show you some of the common infections us humans get, how we become infected and what symptoms they may cause:

Giardia Lamblia

Giardia Lamblia is a flagellated protozoa parasite that colonizes and reproduces in the small intestine (S.I.), causing Giardiasis. Giardiasis does not spread to other parts of the gastro-intestinal tract, but remains confined to the lumen of the S.I. Giardia traphozoites absorb their nutrients from the lumen of the S.I. and are anaerobes (don’t require oxygen).

Giardia infection can be caused by drinking contaminated water, food or through the fecal-oral route (poor hygiene). Giardia cysts can survive for months in cold water and therefore be present in water systems. They may occur in water supplies even after treatment as they are resistant to conventional water treatments such as chlorination. This is one reason why I recommend people use a reverse osmosis whole-house filtration system.

Cryptosporidium Parvum

Cryptosporidium Parvum is a parasitic disease of the intestinal tract. Symptoms include acute watery and non-bloody diarrhoea. Other symptoms may include anorexia, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Cryptosporidium is particularly concerning with clients that have compromised immune systems.

The Cryptosporidium infection is spread via the fecal-oral route.

Cryptosporidium is considered to be the most important water-born pathogen in developed countries. It is resistant to all levels of chlorination. Another good reason for using reverse osmosis water filtration systems!

Cryptosporidium infection destroys cells and breaks down the mucosal barrier. Cryptosporidium migrates in and out of cells on a seven day cycle and can cause widespread cellular changes.

Cryptosporidium can inhabit the whole G.I. tract, especially the small intestine and colon.

Blastocystis Hominis

Blastocystis Hominis is a single cell parasite, classed as a Stremenopile that infects the gastro-intestinal tract. Blastocystis Hominis can infect farm animals, birds, rodents, amphibians, reptiles, fish and cockroaches. Blastocystis Hominis has a great diversity of morphological forms which makes it difficult to identify and diagnose.

Common forms of Blastocystis Hominis are vacuolar, granular, amoeboid and cyst forms. The organism is dependent upon the environmental conditions as it is very sensitive to oxygen.

Blastocystis Hominis is found in the colon in humans. People with Blastocystis Hominis may or may not have symptoms. Symptoms include watery or loose stools, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, gas and vomiting.

Entamoeba Histolytica

Entamoeba Histolytica is an anaerobic parasitic protozoan. Entamoeba Histolytica infects humans and primates predominantly. 50 million people are believed to be infected worldwide. Domestic animals can become affected, but are not believed to infect humans.

Entamoeba Histolytica can cause abscesses in the brain, lung, diaphragm, liver, spleen, colon and around the anus. Entamoeba Histolytica is the second largest cause of death worldwide (after Malaria) and it infects the colon five to seven weeks after exposure. It also invades the central nervous system of the colon. Entamoeba Histolytica damages nerve tissue as well as muscle tissue.

Inflammatory bowel disease is common with people infected with Entamoeba Histolytica. If follows a pathogen mediated course; it can invade the liver and anywhere it wants to go.

High cholesterol can drive it from the colon to the liver. Use of corticosteroids can drive it from the colon to a full-blown systemic infection in three to five days.

Many deaths occur annually with liver abscess biopsy when Entamoeba Histolytica is present as it is released into the general circulation causing death by toxicity / antigen overload with in two to three hours.

Helicobacter Pylori

Helicobacter Pylori is a bacterium, often found living in the lining of the upper gastro-intestinal tract and liver. H. Pylori infects up to 50% of the human population and is pathogenic to humans and is strongly associated with peptic ulcers, chronic gastritis, duodenitis (inflammation in the S.I.) and stomach cancer.

H. Pylori are able to thrive in the very acidic mammalian stomachs by producing high levels of the enzyme urease, which raises pH from approximately two to a more bio-compatible range of six to seven.

H. Pylori is a spiral shaped bacterium that is found in the gastric mucous layer or attached to the epithelial lining of the stomach.

H. Pylori causes more than 90% of duodenal ulcers and up to 80% of gastric ulcers. Approximately two thirds of the world’s population are infected. Infected individuals have a two to six times higher risk of developing gastric cancer and mucosal associated lymphoid type lymphoma. Related symptoms include heartburn, acid reflux, upper abdominal pain, indigestion, belching, gastritis, duodenal / peptic ulcers, carcinoma, headaches, especially migraines, constipation, nausea, acne, halitosis and undigested food in stool.

H. Pylori enters the body most often through under-cooked food. It has also been suggested it can be passed via saliva (kissing) and has been obtained from oral cavities as well as vaginal and prostate fluids. The likelihood of infection increases with age.

Tune in for the final part of this post, when I will outline some strategies for eliminating these types of infections and getting your health and vitality back.

Stay tuned…