Parasites and human health

          Parasites are one of the five P's constituting  "Nature's Hangmen". Other four include Pathogens, Parasitoids, Pest and Predators. Parasitic diseases continue to be a major public health problem over the world with associated high degree of mortality, morbidity and man-day loss. Parasitic infections continue to present a major challenge to the health and well-being of millions of people across the world, particularly those living in the poorest regions, mainly the tropics and sub-tropics. Global unrest, floods and famine, the migration of huge populations and spread of HIV infection have added to the already serious problems not only in terms of increased Parasitic burdens but also in terms of interactions between parasites and other infectious agents. Out of 60million deaths in the world, more than 25% are accounted to parasites.
          There are currently no vaccine against any parasitic infection in humans. Parasites also have the capacity to develops resistance to the few effective drugs available, resistance to antimalarials being the most spectacular. Furthermore, attempts to control parasites by attacking their vectors have been hampered by the development of insecticide resistance. Parasitic infections therefore present enormous challenges.

          A parasite is an organism that is entirely dependent on another organism refereed to as its host, for all or part of its life cycle and metabolic requirements. Strictly speaking, the term parasite can be applied to any infectious agent but by convention it is generally restricted to infections caused by protozoa and helminths and excludes the viruses, bacteria and fungi.

Sources of infection
Parasitic infections originate from the following sources;
1. Contaminated soil and water
2. Raw and undercooked pork
3. Raw and undercooked beef
4. Blood sucking insects
5. Housefly
6. Dog
7. Cat - source of T.gondii
8. Man
      Other sources of infection exist but the above are the most common we might encounter daily. Diet ethic, house cleanliness and proper environmental sanitation are very basic ways of reducing parasitic infection spread.

Do you know other sources of parasitic infection or something else related to parasites and human health? Please do well to share in the comments below