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Parasitic infections

Description

Infections that are caused by microorganisms called parasites which live inside the host’s body and take nutrition from the host.

These infections are invasive and badly affect the host.

Causes

Parasitic infections are categorized as:

  • Protozoan infections caused by single-celled organisms e.g.Giardiasis
  • Helminthic infections caused by worms e.g. tapeworms, roundworms, flatworms, and hookworms.
  • Ectoparasite infections that are caused by mosquitos, fleas, and mites e.g. Malaria, allergy.
Risk factors

Food and water contamination, waste, soil and poor sanitation conditions are the main factors contributing to infections by worms and protozoa.

A person is more likely to contact an infection if:

  • They have an unhygienic lifestyle e.g. no concept of hand sanitization and clean cooking.
  • Are immunocompromised due to some existing illness.
  • Don’t have access to clean drinking water.
  • Eating raw and unwashed fruits and vegetables.
  • Swim in lakes or ponds where there’s a mix of sewerage water and presence of protozoa.
  • An environment that involves constant contact with soil e.g. Kids playing in sand and dirt will eat with dirty hands later and are most likely to get roundworm infection.
  • Stagnant water due to blocked drains is an excellent spot for mosquitoes to breed. Mosquitos are carriers of Plasmodium parasite which causes Malaria.
Symptoms

Symptoms of different parasitic infections vary:

  1. Ascariasis is a Roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides) infection which first produces symptoms of coughing and wheezing as the parasite migrates to throat and lungs first. After that, it goes into the intestine and causes abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, blood, and worm in stools.
  2. Malaria is contacted by mosquito bite and it invades the bloodstream causing symptoms of chills and high-grade fever along with body ache.
  3. Trichomoniasis is a parasitic infection that is transmitted sexually. Usually, it’s without symptoms but may cause itching, redness, irritation, and discharge in host’s genital area.
  4. Giardiasis is contacted by contaminated food and water and from an infected person. It causes diarrhea, upset stomach, gases, greasy stools, and dehydration.
  5. Toxoplasmosis is contacted from cat feces. It causes flu-like symptoms with fever, swollen lymph nodes and muscular pain lasting even a month. It is particularly dangerous for pregnant women.
  6. Ancylostomiasis is Hookworm infection that first produces a rash on the skin when the parasite penetrates the skin. Later, the symptoms appear of abdominal pain, diarrhea and decreased appetite with weight loss. Anemia is the typical sign of this infection.
Diagnosis

Diagnosis of parasitic infections is made through:

  • Blood tests for protozoa infections like CBC and Malarial Parasite test.
  • Stool tests for checking worms and eggs in a stool sample.
  • Endoscopy or colonoscopy if stool tests are insufficient to make a diagnosis.
  • X-rays, MRI and CT scans will help see any organ damage caused by parasites.
Management

Before medicines, few lifestyle changes will help you to avoid coming across an infection. You must:

  • Wash hands and all raw veggies and fruits before cooking.
  • Boil water before drinking.
  • Eat clean and take care of personal hygiene.
  • Practice safe sex and use a condom.
  • Make sure the kids wash their hands and take a bath after playing in soil and dirt.

 Medicines for treating parasitic infections include:

  • Anti-malarial drugs for treating malaria.
  • Antihelmintic drugs for worm infections
  • Antibiotic
When to consult a doctor?

It is advised that you see a doctor if the fever and episode of diarrhea associated with parasitic infection gets worse and the symptoms don’t get better with the recommended treatment.

Available Medicine for Parasitic infections

Ketress 40 mg

Rs.42.91

ICI Pakistan Limited

Ketress Syrup

Rs.79.33

ICI Pakistan Limited

Anthex 100mg

Rs.22

Fozan

Bedzol 100mg

Rs.22

Rakahposhi

Bedzol 100mg

Rs.28.83

Rakahposhi

Bendamox 100mg

Rs.102

Unexo

Erizole 100mg

Rs.40.8

Efroze

Erizole 100mg

Rs.12.4

Efroze

Erizole 500mg

Rs.12

Efroze

Eworm 100mg

Rs.40

Synchro

Geozole 100g

Rs.30.13

Geofman

Geozole 100mg

Rs.3.23

Geofman

Geozole 100mg

Rs.3.23

Geofman

Mebendazole 100mg

Rs.17

Benson

Mebendazole 100mg

Rs.15

Benson

Mebizin 100mg

Rs.26.5

Shrooq

Mabnagen 100mg

Rs.0

Genera

Mabnagen 100mg

Rs.0

Genera

Mabnagen 100mg

Rs.0

Genera

Mabnagen 500mg

Rs.0

Genera

Menarex 100mg

Rs.22

Rex

Menarex 100mg

Rs.17.3

Rex

Menarex 500mg

Rs.15

Rex

Mendazole 100mg

Rs.17.5

Valor

Mendazole 500mg

Rs.15

Valor

Mezonil 100mg

Rs.27.5

Dr.Raza

Mezonil 100mg

Rs.3.67

Dr.Raza

Nemazole 100mg

Rs.3.43

GlaxoSmithKline

Nemazole 500mg

Rs.17.26

GlaxoSmithKline

Panamox 100mg

Rs.27.3

Life line

Panamox 100mg

Rs.3.14

Life line

Panamox 100mg

Rs.18

Life line

Tagameb 100mg

Rs.17.3

Tagma

Thelmox 100mg

Rs.22

Polyfine

Vermin 100mg

Rs.105.87

Adamjee Pharmaceuticals

Vermol SD 500g

Rs.27

Vermol

Vermol 100mg

Rs.60.89

Vermol

Vermol 100mg

Rs.19.23

Vermol

Vermox 30 ml 100 mg

Rs.69.24

Aspin Pharma

Vermox Tablet 100mg

Rs.75

Janssen

Vermox 500mg

Rs.106.25

Aspin Pharma

Warth 500mg

Rs.500

Saydon

Warth 500mg

Rs.15

Saydon

Wormdox 100mg

Rs.26

Mediceena

Wormdox 100mg

Rs.645

Mediceena

Wormdox 100mg

Rs.18

Mediceena

Wormizole 500mg

Rs.15

Epla

Wormizole 100mg

Rs.19.57

Epla

Wormizole 100mg

Rs.12.05

Epla

Zenzol 100mg

Rs.22

Jawa

Zenzol 100g

Rs.17.3

Jawa

Zeworm 100mg

Rs.173

Wilshire

Vermox Syrup 100mg 30ml

Rs.91.39

Aspin Pharma

Flagyl 400mg 400mg

Rs.31.97

Sanofi

Metodine DF 400mg/500mg

Rs.46.02

Searle

Flagyl Plus

Rs.24.6

Sanofi

Flagyl 200mg/5ml

Rs.72.57

Sanofi

Geomet 25gm

Rs.90

Unimark

Metical-V 75gm

Rs.126

Shrooq

Metni-V 75gm

Rs.172.85

Shaigan

Zygel 75gm

Rs.118.45

Bloom Pharma

Amibazol 500mg|400mg

Rs.50

Geofman

Amizole 250mg|200mg

Rs.36

Ankaz

Dilomet DS 250mg|200mg

Rs.55

Friends

Dizet 250mg|200mg

Rs.32

Rasco

Dizet 250mg|200mg

Rs.24.67

Rasco

Dizet 500mg|400mg

Rs.74

Rasco

Dizole 250mg|200mg

Rs.30

Fynk

Loxon 250mg|200mg

Rs.52

Bloom Pharma

Loxon 500mg|400mg

Rs.74

Bloom Pharma

MD 250mg|200mg

Rs.19.33

Dr.Raza

MD 500mg|400mg

Rs.19.33

Dr.Raza

Medel 250mg|200mg

Rs.25

Neo Medix

Metodine DF 250mg|200mg

Rs.34.5

Searle

Metric-DF 250mg|200mg

Rs.35

Polyfine

Metrodan 500mg|400mg

Rs.55

Danas

Metrox 500mg|400mg

Rs.48

Hygeia

Nawazole 500mg|400mg

Rs.60

Nawab Labs

Rakamizol 500mg|400mg

Rs.21.5

Rakahposhi

Tamizole 250mg|200mg

Rs.18

Pharma Wise

Zolonide 250mg|200mg

Rs.63

Ideal

Zolt 250mg|200mg

Rs.52

Stanely

Zolt 250mg|200mg

Rs.74

Stanely

Amibazol 250mg/200mg

Rs.24

Geofman

Amibazol 250mg/200mg

Rs.16.67

Geofman

Amibazol 500mg/400mg

Rs.50

Geofman

Amizole 250mg/200mg

Rs.73.5

Ankaz

Anizol 500mg/400mg

Rs.24.67

Pharmix

Cayzole 250mg/200mg

Rs.15.29

Caylex

Diar-DS 250mg/200mg

Rs.19.83

Davis Pharma

Diloxamet 250mg/200mg

Rs.25

Mediceena

Diloxamet 500mg/400mg

Rs.68

Mediceena

Diloxazole 250mg/200mg

Rs.23.33

Pharmacare

Diprotop-MD 250mg/200mg

Rs.35

Synchro

Disenite 250mg/200mg

Rs.32.15

Hizat

Dizet 500mg/400mg

Rs.74

Rasco

Dizole 500mg/400mg

Rs.55

Fynk

Entamizole 250mg/200mg

Rs.41.68

Abbott Laboratories

Entamizole 250mg/200mg

Rs.77.23

Abbott Laboratories

Entamizole 250mg/200mg

Rs.83.28

Abbott Laboratories

Entamizole DS 500mg/400mg

Rs.121.62

Abbott Laboratories

Flagyl Plus 250mg/200mg

Rs.24.67

Sanofi

Flagzol 250mg/200mg

Rs.25

Nova Med

Gastrizole 500mg/400mg

Rs.55.3

Euro Pharma

Gonapan DF 250mg/200mg

Rs.20.33

Reko

Loxon 250mg/200mg

Rs.35

Bloom Pharma

Loxon 500mg/400mg

Rs.74

Bloom Pharma

MD 250mg/200mg

Rs.29

Dr.Raza

Medile 250mg/200mg

Rs.28

Leama Chemi

Megazol 250mg/200mg

Rs.30

Pharmadic

Menizol 250mg/200mg

Rs.27

Umersons

Menizol 500mg/400mg

Rs.50.76

Umersons

Metodine DF 250mg/200mg

Rs.99.09

Searle

Metovine 250mg/200mg

Rs.16

Venus

Metric-DF 250mg/200mg

Rs.40

Polyfine

Metrodan 500mg/400mg

Rs.55

Danas

Metrodil 250mg/200mg

Rs.30

Sharex

Metrodil 250mg/200mg

Rs.75

Sharex

Metrodil 500mg/400mg

Rs.75

Sharex

Metrox 250mg/200mg

Rs.16

Hygeia

Micazol 250mg/200mg

Rs.45

Pharmadic

Nawazole 250mg/200mg

Rs.25

Nawab Labs

Nawazole 500mg/400mg

Rs.60

Nawab Labs

Nida-X 250mg/200mg

Rs.25

Jafson

Rakamizol 250mg/200mg

Rs.38

Rakahposhi

Rakamizol 500mg/400mg

Rs.21.5

Rakahposhi

Tamizole 250mg/200mg

Rs.110

Pharma Wise

Zolonide 250mg/200mg

Rs.32

Ideal

Zolonide 500mg/400mg

Rs.21

Ideal

Zolt 500mg/400mg

Rs.74

Stanely

Entamizole 90ml

Rs.94.94

Abbott Laboratories

Metrozine 200mg

Rs.22

Searle

Troz 500 mg

Rs.95.42

Bosch

Revomet Gel 1% 40gm

Rs.246.77

kaizen

Flagyl Infusion 500mg

Rs.187.5

Sanofi

ENTAMIZOLE 90ML SYP

Rs.77.83

Abbott Laboratories

Metrozine 200mg

Rs.85.6

Searle

Metrozine 400mg

Rs.32.6

Searle

Metrolis

Rs.43.08

Titlis Pharma

Metrolis 200mg

Rs.70.09

Titlis Pharma

Flagyl 200 mg / 5 ml

Rs.136.64

Sanofi

Espercil 1 %

Rs.195.7

Hirani's Pharma