Intestinal parasites are not exclusive to India but should definitely be a concern for those traveling in the country. Parasites are commonly contracted as a result of consuming uncooked or unhygenically prepared foods and by drinking contaminated water. Though they rarely cause death, intestinal parasites can cause infection and severe discomfort if not treated immediately. Follow the tips in this article to make sure you stay healthy during your travels in India…

Intestinal parasites unfortunately are something that can be ingested anywhere in the world, but the general lack of hygiene and increased chance of consuming uncooked and infected foods in India undoubtedly exposes you to a greater risk. A few years ago my uncle (who spends six months of the year living in Goa) contracted tapeworm eggs while travelling in India. It was several weeks later when he returned to the U.K that the eggs hatched in his digestive system and he consequently started to feel poorly. The climax of his parasite nightmare was the moment when the tapeworms moved through his bloodstream and towards his brain. This resulted in him having a spasm that he could not control and he consequently dislocated his own shoulder! He was then fortunately treated with a dose of mebendazole and squeamishly tells a tale of the worms leaving his body when he next went to the toilet and they were about 5 metres long! Some adult tapeworms can actually live for up to 30 years in the human body and grow as long as 15 metres!

Alright so the moral of the story is that no one really wants to let one of these monsters hatch inside them, especially when travelling in a foreign land, so what should you do? Read on to understand the basic facts and for some more tips and advice…

One thing a doctor will advise if anyone actually contracts intestinal parasites is to wash your hands on a regular basis especially after using the toilet as the eggs can very easily be passed on this way. On this note it’s vital that you always wash your hands thoroughly before eating, especially when travelling in India, as often you will be eating food with your hands.

The symptoms to look out for are as listed above, although these symptoms could be caused by many other factors, so don’t always jump to the conclusion that you have a parasite infection if you suffer from something listed here. It’s best to always keep a close eye on your health and seek proper medical attention if necessary.

Mebendazole is the most common medicine used for treating intestinal parasites, such as tapeworms, hook worms and pin worms. It can be used as both a treatment and preventive, which is why I always recommend you take a one-off dose just before travelling to India to make sure you’re protected. Mebendazole works by preventing the worms from absorbing sugars which they need to survive. This kills the worm within a few days. Although mebendazole kills adult worms, it doesn’t kill the eggs. Because of this, it’s important to break the cycle of re-infection. This can be done by treating everyone living in your house at the same time (even if they don’t have any symptoms) and by making sure you do the following…

• wash your hands thoroughly
• disinfect your toilet seat on a regular basis
• wear tight fitting pyjamas or underwear in bed.
• take a shower first in the morning to wash away any eggs that have been laid in the night
• change and wash your bedding frequently

Please note that I’m not a medical professional and adequate advice should always be taken from an expert before taking any medicines and for treating any  intestinal parasites.