Prevention of parasitic diseases
Prevention of parasitic diseases involves strategies to reduce the risk of infection caused by parasites, which are organisms that depend on a host for survival. Common parasitic diseases include head lice, malaria, toxoplasmosis, giardiasis, and trichomoniasis, each requiring specific preventive measures. For instance, to prevent head lice, individuals are encouraged to avoid close contact, share personal items, and regularly wash infested clothing and bedding. In the case of malaria, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, preventative actions include the use of prophylactic medications, sleeping in screened areas, and applying insect repellent.
Giardiasis prevention focuses on safe water practices and hygiene, such as using bottled water in areas with possible contamination and washing hands before meals. Toxoplasmosis can be mitigated by avoiding undercooked meats and practicing safe handling of cat litter. Lastly, trichomoniasis prevention emphasizes safe sexual practices, including the use of condoms and regular testing with partners. Understanding these preventive measures is vital, as many parasitic diseases can significantly impact health, especially in vulnerable populations.
Prevention of parasitic diseases
Definition
A parasitic disease is a disease caused by a parasite, an organism that feeds off a host (often a human) to survive. Common parasitic diseases include head lice, malaria, toxoplasmosis, giardiasis, and trichomoniasis.
Types of Parasitic Diseases
Head lice infestation is an infestation of the hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes by the parasite Pediculus humanus capitis. Malaria is an infection of the red blood cells. It is caused by the parasite Plasmodium. Toxoplasmosis is an infection that may result in flulike symptoms. It can affect the brain, lung, heart, eyes, and liver. Toxoplasmosis is caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Giardiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the parasite Giardia lamblia. Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the parasite Trichomonas vaginallis.
Prevention
Head lice. Head lice are spread by direct contact with someone who is infested with head lice or by direct contact with infested items, such as clothing, bedding, combs, and brushes. One can take the following precautions to reduce the spread of head lice: avoid head-to-head contact, when possible; avoid sharing combs and brushes; avoid using furniture that has recently been used by an infested person; wash in hot water all bed linens, clothing, and towels that have been in contact with someone who is infested; and vacuum carpeting and furniture used by an infested person.
Malaria. Malaria is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. There are some prophylactic medicines available that can help keep a person from contracting the disease. Persons who are planning to travel to a country where malaria is prevalent should talk to their doctors about whether or not they need a prophylactic medication, and they should do so a minimum of one month before traveling. Prophylactic malaria medications are not 100 percent effective, so it is important to take other precautions to reduce exposure to mosquitoes.
In addition to taking prophylactic medications, one can take the following measures to reduce exposure to mosquitoes, which will help prevent the spread of malaria: When possible, sleep in a screened-in room; sleep under mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors; spray clothing and skin with insect repellant that contains NN-diethyl metatoluamide (DEET); and wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts from dusk until dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.
Giardiasis. Giardiasis is spread through contaminated water and by direct contact with someone who is infected. There is no vaccination or prophylactic medication for the prevention of giardiasis. However, one can take the following measures to prevent giardiasis infection: Use bottled water when camping or traveling to areas where the water supply may be contaminated; use water purification methods, such as boiling or filtering, before drinking water or before using it to brush one’s teeth (when bottled water is not available); avoid raw fruits and vegetables when traveling to areas where the water may be contaminated; wash hands with soap and water before preparing or eating food and after using the toilet or changing a diaper; use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available; and use a condom when engaging in anal sex.
Toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis is spread by contact with cat feces or by eating undercooked meat. There is no vaccination or prophylactic medication for the prevention of toxoplasmosis. However, one can take the following measures to help prevent transmission of the disease: Avoid undercooked meats; freeze meat at subzero temperatures for several days before cooking; avoid cleaning a litter box if pregnant; wear gloves when gardening or handling soil; wash hands with soap and water before eating or preparing food, and after handling raw meat; and cover children’s sandboxes when not in use.
Trichomoniasis. Trichomoniasis is spread through sexual contact. There is no vaccination or prophylactic medication for the prevention of trichomoniasis. However, one can take the following measures to avoid becoming infected: Abstain from sex, use latex condoms when having sex, and engage in monogamous relationships only with persons who have recently been tested for trichomoniasis.
Impact
Head lice infestation is most common among preschool and elementary school children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated in 2024 that between 6 and 12 million cases of head lice infestation occur each year in the United States among children aged three to eleven years.
The World Health Organization estimated that in 2023, there were 263 million cases of malaria and roughly 597,000 deaths from the disease in 83 countries. 94 percent of malaria cases that year occurred in Africa, and children under 5 accounted for roughly 76 percent of deaths in African malaria cases.
In 2024, the CDC stated that each year, more than 1 million people are infected with Giardia. Incidents of Giardia occurred across the world.
In 2024, the CDC stated that more than 40 million people in the United States carry the Toxoplasma parasite, but most do not develop toxoplasmosis. However, toxoplasmosis is a leading cause of death related to food-borne illness in the United States. Trichomoniasis is the most common curable sexually transmitted disease in young, sexually active women. In 2021, the CDC estimated that trichomoniasis infected 2.6 million people in the United States.
Bibliography
"About Giardia Infection." Centers for Disease Control, 3 May 2024, www.cdc.gov/giardia/about/index.html. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
"About Head Lice." Centers for Disease Control, 4 June 2024, www.cdc.gov/lice/about/head-lice.html. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
"About Toxoplasmosis." Centers for Disease Control, 10 Sept. 2024, www.cdc.gov/toxoplasmosis/about/index.html. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
Fritsche, Thomas, and Rangaraj Selvarangan. “Medical Parasitology.” In Henry’s Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods, edited by Richard McPherson and Matthew Pincus. 21st ed. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders, 2007.
"Malaria." World Health Organization, 11 Dec. 2024, www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
"Trichomoniasis." Centers for Disease Control, 2021, www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/trichomoniasis.htm. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.