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Time Magazine
2 days ago
- Health
- Time Magazine
You Might Be Hosting a Parasite Right Now. Here's How to Tell
There are more parasites than any other organism on Earth—which is one of the reasons Emmitt Jolly finds the common but misunderstood creatures so fascinating. 'That is the most successful form of life,' says Jolly, a professor of biology at Case Western University. People often assume that honor would go to insects, but 'the reality is that every insect you find is parasitized by something.' Sometimes, humans are too. Nearly 850 species of parasites are known to infect people; some, like the potentially deadly plasmodium parasite that causes malaria, are well-known. Others fly more under the radar. We asked Jolly and other experts how parasites are transmitted, what it feels like to be infected, and what you can do to protect yourself. How people get parasites Parasites truly live up to their name. 'They take something from the host but do not give anything back,' says Bobbi Pritt, a professor of laboratory medicine and pathology and the chair of the division of clinical microbiology at Mayo Clinic. While some cause serious, potentially life-threatening illness, others aren't harmful, and people don't always realize they're infected. Take the flat, ribbon-like tapeworm, which sneakily absorbs your nutrients: 'You may not even know you have a tapeworm until part of it comes out [in your stool],' Pritt says. 'Of course, that's usually very traumatic and horrifying, but up until that point, it's just a passenger within you, and you might not know that it's there.' Parasites are most common in tropical and subtropical parts of the world, like sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. They thrive in areas with poor sanitation and hygiene, and people can get infected in a variety of ways, Pritt says, including through insect bites, by drinking unclean water or eating undercooked meat or vegetables, via sexual contact, and by walking barefoot on contaminated sand or soil. Read More: Be Careful Where You Swim This Summer Parasites are less common in the U.S. than in developing countries. 'That's because of interventions over the years like safe water and urbanization and clean toilets, and the fact that we don't necessarily walk barefoot in areas where there could be snails and worms,' says Dr. Alfredo Mena Lora, chair of the department of medicine at Saint Anthony Hospital in Chicago and an infectious disease expert. 'Climate, health—all those things help reduce parasitic infections in the U.S.' Yet there are still millions of new infections in the U.S. per year. Many of these infections are easily treatable with antiparasitic medications. Some, however, have such subtle symptoms that they often go undiagnosed, Lora says. A closer look at parasites Here's what to know about a few of the parasites experts see pop up in humans. If you have a cat, you've probably heard that women who are pregnant shouldn't clean litter boxes. That's because of the risk of toxoplasmosis, an infection caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which is transmitted through cats' feces. 'This is probably one of the most proliferative parasites in terms of their ability to infect a lot of different things,' Jolly says. Most parasites only affect a small set of species, but Toxaplasma gondii can strike cats, humans, birds, livestock, rodents, and other mammals. Research suggests that 30% to 50% of people around the world have been infected with this parasite. Most people don't experience any notable symptoms, but for those with weakened immune systems as well as women who are pregnant, it's a different story: The infection can cause the fetus to have complications like blindness, epilepsy, anemia, and damaged brain tissue. Plus, a few small studies suggest toxoplasmosis can affect human personality, making people more prone to intermittent explosive disorder and increased aggression, more likely to have car accidents, and more sexually promiscuous. Tapeworm infections have declined significantly in the U.S., but they still occur, mainly when people eat raw or undercooked meat that contains Taenia saginata (beef tapeworm) or Taenia solium (pork tapeworm). Once the larvae enter your intestines, they turn into big worms with lots of little segments that expand and grow in your stomach. 'When you eat,' Jolly says, 'they eat.' Read More: How to Bring Up Someone's Bad Hygiene Without Offending Them People often don't realize they have beef tapeworm disease, though they might have some mild abdominal symptoms or lose weight. But pork tapeworm can lead to cysticercosis, which happens when larvae migrate outside of the intestines, affecting the brain and eyes. That can trigger seizures, headaches, confusion, and other neurological issues, which is typically treated with either antiparasitic medications or even surgery for tapeworm-related cysts in the eyes. Years ago, before he became the parasite expert he is today, Jolly almost made an amateur mistake: He recalls leaning forward to drink some of the crystal-clear mountain water raining down in front of him from a waterfall at Yosemite National Park. 'I was thinking, 'Look how pretty—this is probably the perfect drinking water,'' he says. 'My buddy from California hit me and said, 'Man, there's giardia in this.' I'm very happy I did not drink the water—let me just say that.' Jolly's hike almost certainly would have taken an unpleasant turn. Giardia—often called 'beaver fever' because it can spread through the rodents' feces—causes severe diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting, bloating, dehydration, and irritability. When the parasites invade the intestines, they can proliferate rapidly, he adds, covering the entire lining of your stomach wall. Hookworms are ancient parasites that still pop up in the U.S., especially in the South. People are often infected when they walk barefoot and step on animal or human feces full of larvae that then burrow into their skin. (Yet another reason to always wear shoes.) 'What happens is the hookworm is waiting for a host in the sand,' Jolly says. 'Once they're exposed to skin, they pass through directly into the circulatory system, until they find the way to the intestines, where they enter and put their heads in and produce offspring.' That doesn't mean, however, that you end up with more hookworms: Worms' eggs typically pass out through your feces. 'If you have seven hookworms, you have seven hookworms,' Jolly says. 'You're not going to end up with 17,000, unlike many of these single-cell organisms, like giardia.' Unless you have a whole lot of hookworms—which live for six to 10 years—there's a good chance you won't ever even know you're infected, since light infections are asymptomatic. In more severe cases, the worms can cause stomach issues, anemia, and fatigue. These white, parasitic worms are straight out of a nightmare: They come to life while the person they've infected is asleep, emerging from the intestinal tract to lay eggs on the skin around the anus before crawling back in. 'The end result is that people begin to itch and scratch,' Jolly says. 'You'll see these little kids, and they'll just be scraping their butts on the floor'—a telltale sign of infection. Pinworms are highly contagious, and often, when one person in the family has the parasite, it usually becomes 'a family affair,' Jolly says. As you might imagine, those who are infected often experience psychological distress. 'Here you are every night, and these things are crawling in and out of your anus,' he says. 'You're concerned and you're tired, you can't go to sleep, you start waking up—people become anxious, very much so.' While antiparasitic medications can kill pinworms, it's also important to thoroughly clean all linens, such as bedsheets and towels, if you get infected, since eggs can survive on surfaces for up to three weeks. How to protect yourself from parasites You can take certain steps to lower your chances of becoming an unwitting host to one of these nasties. Practicing basic hygiene is key, Lora says. Wash your hands with soap regularly, use insect repellent, always wear shoes outside, and make sure your food is cooked thoroughly. If you're going abroad, work closely with a travel clinic ahead of time, Pritt advises—not just your primary care doctor. These specialists will be able to dispense the best guidance for you to stay safe and healthy during your trip. 'Every place is different,' she says. 'I've traveled around various parts of the world, and there are some places where I needed to get certain vaccines, and others where I was told the water is not safe to drink, and you don't even want to brush your teeth with it.' Read More: 10 Symptoms ER Doctors Say to Never Ignore Simply being aware of parasites—and the risks they present—can also go a long way. 'Parasites are impressive,' Jolly says. 'But at the same time, there should be some control, particularly when it's our own bodies. Maybe you don't want worms crawling out of your anus.'
Irish Examiner
19-07-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
Esther McCarthy: Summer camps, and why they're essential for school holiday survival
The summer, even the Irish kind, has many attributes for which we parents must be thankful. It's a time to take a break from all the rushing and racing of term-time schedules, for one thing. I don't miss cooking the grub, with the laptop on the counter, to throw into containers for them to eat in the car, while roaring out instructions to where a gum shield might be (it's with all those single socks, the tops of the Pritt sticks, and the one missing puzzle piece from every jigsaw that's ever had the misfortune to come into the house). Every evening, there's multiple activities happening in various locations. 'Your own stupid fault for joining them in the first place!' I hear you shout. Well, yes, you're right, reader, but it's too late for recriminations now, crankyhole, it is what it is, and I just have to keep getting them where they need to be, with enough protein in their bodies and makeshift mala gumshields that hopefully won't poison them. But during the summer, everything eases off (except our local GAA, but I'm just happy the lads still have some semblance of a routine) and you remember why you signed your precious progeny up to everything in the first place. They're really quite annoying. They demand attention, and entertainment, and sustenance ALL THE TIME. They'll come out with outrageous demands. I'm bored, can we go to the cinema? I'm hungry, can you go shopping? My teeth are still green from the play-dough gum shield, can I go to the dentist/A&E? Whingers. This is where the camps come in. Depending on what type of parent you are, camps fall into two distinct categories. The first category is parents who actually care about what their kids are interested in. They tend to only have one camp-appropriate aged child, and they'll bring them out for special mummy and daddy time in early January for a Kiddychino in a cool cafe to have a family meeting about what Firstborn Goldenballs (FBGB) would like to do this summer. Then they'll meticulously research the credentials of the manga comic book art teacher, and if that mofo hasn't got a three-year deal with Pixar or didn't go viral with a Spider-Man tutorial during covid, he's unlikely good enough for their precious FBGB. They are happy to travel too, if the Mummy Who Knows Best WhatsApp group has it that the STEAM tutorial three towns away has the edge on the one being held in the local parish hall, then this Mama will happily drive the extra two-and-a-half hours there and back. It gives her more bonding time with FBGB, and a chance for them both to listen to a podcast on healing your inner child by coding with your outer one. The second category of parent is a household where both parents work, and they probably popped out one too many sprogs to be able to offload them to family members with a straight face. Around the third week in June, they have full-blown panic attacks and nearly divorce over who's responsibility it is to mind the kids now that the teachers have selfishly stopped doing it. Cúl Camp is the only one they'll have prebooked. The kid wants the kit, and the backpack is fierce handy. After that, they'll shove them in whatever camps have any spaces left, regardless of suitability. It could be concrete patio-building classes in Youghal — as long as it keeps them occupied from 9am to 2pm, sign um up. Hey, if they're happy to go to a sports camp run by a sugary cereal, they can fit in to Bible Classes for Atheists, Surf Camp for Armband Bandits, and Butchery Techniques 101 for Vegans. But it all works out in the end. The car pool kicks in with that blessed, precious, organised mum who knows how to do a spreadsheet for lifts to Ballyhass. Random kids end up in your house and they do what you have all but admitted defeat on… persuading your child that bird plops do not, in fact, render the trampoline useless and the bounce rate is the same as pre The Great Gull Guano Bombing of 2024. Making a new friend outside of school and local sports is so good for them too. It's a little confidence boost, I think. It's a chance for them to start fresh, from scratch, be whoever they want to be on that particular week. There is a third category, of course — the families that can't afford extra-curricular summer activities. If camps are summer survival strategies for stressed-out parents, it's only for the lucky ones who pay for them. Because while I mess about spreadsheets and snack bags and sanity, the truth is these so-called luxuries are increasingly out of reach. Camps buy time and space. They let us work, rest, and even — don't tell them I said this, I'll deny it — miss our kids a tinchy bit. But they come at a cost, an expense not everyone is in a position to be able to budget for. Should the price of summer survival be this high? Read More Esther McCarthy: Cork v Dublin was an opportunity for a family memory
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
State lawmaker slams Raleigh County Board of Education for counselor layoffs
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) — A Fayette County lawmaker criticized Raleigh County School officials for terminating a number of school counselor positions earlier this year. Republican Delegate Elliott Pritt of Fayette County said that school counselors were now a necessary aspect to the state's education system because West Virginia has the highest number of foster children in the U.S. Counselors are equipped to help with both special needs and student behavior. In March the Raleigh County Board of Education voted to terminate, transfer or cut the hours of a number of school counselors. Pritt said recent legislation could force the Board to rehire some of the counselors. 'We had to pass a bill this year in response to a decision Raleigh County made to fire so many of their school counselors, which is a terrible decision,' said Pritt. 'A terrible decision. Whoever made that decision should have their education degrees removed, and I don't mind going on the record and saying that.' Raleigh County Board of Education members said in March that they were forced to balance a budget with less funding from Charleston. CEO of WV Coal Association says trade war with China will impact coal operations Raleigh County Schools Superintendent Dr. Serena Starcher said in March that the Board was following the wishes of school principals, who had suggested the cuts the BOE later approved. Public schools are expected to lose more funding to private schools and providers of homeschool curricula through growth of the Hope Scholarship program, which transfers tax dollars from public schools to support private institutions. Pritt also called on private schools to admit a growing population of children in the foster care system, many of whom need the services of school counselors and individualized educational plans. Prosecutor warns of potential charges against women who miscarry in West Virginia The president of the West Virginia Education Association has said that most private schools do not pay professional wages, which would be required to attract school counselors and many certified teachers. State law now requires one counselor for every 250 students in public schools but does not make the same requirement for private schools. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fayette County veteran honored with bridge dedication
OAK HILL, WV (WVNS) – A Fayette County hometown hero has been recognized for his service and sacrifice for his own Darrell Lee Burgess was only 19 when he lost his life on the frontlines. A member of the United States Marine Corps during World War II, Burgess held the rank of Private First Class and was gunned down just two weeks shy of his 20th birthday. Now, more than 80 years later, the Oak Hill Main Street bridge is being dedicated in his honor. Fayette County Delegate Elliott Pritt told 59News that Burgess lost his life while protecting others around him.'He died on the gun. He was shot by a Japanese sniper in the head and was killed instantly,' Pritt said. 'But he was at his gun trying to provide covering fire for other marines in his platoon.' The dedication of the bridge came after the passage of a resolution sponsored by Pritt and Delegate Ridenour in the most recent session of the West Virginia Legislature. Located just near the dedication site for another highly significant historical figure, one Hank Williams Sr., the USMC PFC Darrell Lee Burgess Memorial Bridge will ensure that a local American hero is never forgotten. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Lawmaker says public, private schools play a role in educating foster children in WV
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) — The West Virginia Center for Budget and Policy found in 2023 that West Virginia places children in foster at the highest rate of any state in the country, four times the national average. The study found that while West Virginia had only 0.5% of the national population, 2.2% of American children entering foster care were from West Virginia. The study also found that the number of children in foster care in West Virginia jumped by 57% between 2012 and 2021, despite an overall population decline of 4%. Additionally, the study found that parental rights of West Virginia parents are terminated more often than that of any other state, at a nearly 40% higher rate of speed. West Virginia Delegate Elliott Pritt, a Republican lawmaker who represents District 50, said the foster care system and needs of foster care children and others is now a strong consideration in the state education system. 'The foster care system is inundated with kids, and I think our public schools are inundated with kids that have problems, societal problems, familial problems, and it's not just foster kids,' said Pritt, adding that a number of children in family living situations have needs which require special support from the education system.' Data on public state websites showed around 6,292 foster children were enrolled in public schools in West Virginia in 2023. Ten interesting facts you might not have known about West Virginia Christy Day, spokeswoman for the West Virginia Department of Education, said that 2,142 foster children had an Individualized Education Plan, or an IEP, to meet special educational needs, in the 2023-2024 school year. The data shows that around 35% of students in foster care in 2023 required special education, compared to 22% of students who were not in foster care during the same year. It was unclear on Thursday, May 29, 2025, if the percentage accurately reflected the number of foster children who were in need of an IEP. Pritt said on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, that, due to recent legislation, state law now requires public schools to maintain a certain ratio of counselors, in order to meet students' special needs. Day said that the West Virginia Schools for Diversion and Transition employ professionals who solely provide support to students in foster care, adding that the title of Education Recovery Specialists had been transitioned to a new name, Foster Care Education Specialists. 'This program is a referral-based program and provides services to foster and kinship youth as needed,' Day wrote in an email. 'It also supports those youth identified by schools.' Day said the program assists foster care students and foster parents with document retrieval, enrollment, post high school college planning, programs and support referrals, and transcript analysis. Beckley attorney fears Senate bill could have negative effect on mental health services for at-risk transgender youth in the state Pritt said that private schools also play a role in addressing the educational needs of the state as it relates to students who are in foster care. He said that state law did not grant tax breaks to private schools which admit foster children, but he pointed out that the Hope Scholarship program, which takes money from public school coffers to allow parents or guardians to transfer a child to a homeschool or private school, provides tax dollars to private schools. 'I would hope that now, taking public money, that many of these schools would loosen up requirements or understand that there's a need in our communities, especially religious private schools,' said Pritt, 'that they are serving a community that has needs and that they would accept the applications of some of these kids.' Lawmaker aims to abolish alimony in West Virginia Pritt added that if foster children disagreed with the philosophy of a specific private or public school or homeschool curriculum, they could notify their caseworkers and request a change of educational setting. Day said that the WVDE Office of Special Education oversees the progress of disabled students in public and charter schools. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
