A parasite is an organism that lives on or in the host organism. It also gets its food from or at the expense of its host. Parasitic infections can be unpleasant as they sound. They are much more common than we think. In fact, in most cases, these infections are the reason behind a lot of health issues that people suffer from. It could be a parasitic infection for all you know that affects your physical, mental, and digestive health.

Types of Parasites

• Roundworms
• Tapeworms
• Pinworms
• Whipworms
• Hookworms
• Lice
• Giardia
• Mosquitos
• Bedbugs
• Scabies

Parasites can come in many shape and sizes. Once inside your body it can make you feel hungry, because it feeds on the nourishment from your body. Whereas there are some that feeds off your red blood cells, and cause you anemia. Since it is all the things we feel from within, many times, people do not even realise that they are suffering from a parasitic infection and that it could lad to chronic health problems. It is also important to look out for causes, signs, and symptoms that indicate a parasitic infection to start treatment as soon as possible.

How Can You Get Intestinal Parasites?

• If you live in or visit an area which is known to have parasites
• During an international travel
• If you consume contaminated or unclean food or water
• If you eat uncooked meats
• If you maintain a poor hygiene
• If you have a weakened immune system or HIV or AIDS
• If you work closely with animals, or handle soil or other waste material

Once you are infected with a parasite, it is easy to pass it along to others. If you have a parasite and you do not wash your hands after using the restroom, you can easily pass microscopic parasite eggs onto anything that you touch. It could also come from the common places like the bathroom door handle, a salt shaker, your phone, or just anything that you touch.

How Would You Know If You Have A Parasite?

Here are 10 signs that will help you identify if you have a parasitic infection in your body.

1. Digestive Issues

Unexplained constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating, heartburn, or nausea could signal a parasitic infection. Intestinal parasites settle in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, triggering immune responses that cause a range of symptoms. Many of these are often mistaken for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Unfortunately, routine lab tests may not always detect parasites, and more sensitive diagnostics like the GI-MAP test are needed for accurate identification.

2. Chronic Fatigue & Exhaustion

Parasites can drain your body's nutrients, leading to persistent fatigue, mood changes, headaches, and even memory issues. Some, like Giardia, can cause chronic fatigue syndrome, making it difficult for your body to absorb essential nutrients like iron and B12. This deficiency results in unexplained lethargy, which can disrupt daily life.

3. Skin Problems

Mysterious rashes, hives, eczema, or rosacea may be linked to parasites. When parasites trigger an immune response, your body produces more Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies, leading to allergic reactions that manifest as stubborn skin issues. If over-the-counter treatments aren’t helping, a parasitic infection might be the hidden cause.

4. Muscle & Joint Pain

Some parasites release inflammatory toxins that can settle in muscles and joints, causing pain and stiffness. A specific parasite, Trichinella, found in undercooked meat, can migrate to muscles, leading to persistent aches that don’t respond to usual treatments.

5. Anemia

Certain parasites consume red blood cells or cause internal bleeding, resulting in iron deficiency anemia. This leads to fatigue, weakness, and pale skin, as your body struggles to function with reduced oxygen levels.

6. Constant Hunger or Loss of Appetite

Feeling hungry all the time, despite eating regularly, could indicate a tapeworm or other parasite feeding off your nutrients. On the other hand, nausea and gas can suppress appetite, causing unintentional weight loss.

7. Itching

Some parasites burrow under the skin or lay eggs, leading to intense itching. Pinworms, for example, cause persistent itching around the anus, especially at night. The immune system's response to parasites can also trigger allergic reactions, worsening the irritation.

8. Teeth Grinding (Bruxism)

Grinding your teeth at night could be linked to toxins released by parasites. These toxins interfere with neurotransmitters, triggering anxiety, nervousness, and involuntary teeth grinding while sleeping.

9. Insomnia & Sleep Disturbances

Parasites are often more active at night, causing physical discomfort and disrupting sleep. If you're experiencing frequent wake-ups or unexplained restlessness, an underlying parasitic infection might be the reason.

10. Bloating & Gas

Parasites like Giardia can lead to excessive gas and bloating, making your stomach feel constantly distended. The severity of symptoms varies, and while some people experience major discomfort, others may have a parasitic infection without any noticeable symptoms.

Long COVID should be viewed as a web of overlapping symptoms rather than a single, uniform condition, according to a new systematic review published in eClinicalMedicine and reported by the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP). The review highlights several recurring symptom patterns linked to long COVID, including neurological, respiratory, smell and taste-related, cardiopulmonary, and fatigue-driven clusters.

Researchers led by a team from Lanzhou University in Gansu, China, examined data from 64 studies conducted across 20 countries, covering nearly 2.4 million people. They grouped long COVID patients into subtypes using different approaches: symptom overlap in 30 studies, affected organ systems in 16 studies, symptom severity in nine, clinical markers in three, and other classification methods in the remaining research.

COVID Symptoms 2026: Fatigue Emerges As The Most Common Symptom

Among studies that focused on how symptoms appear together, fatigue stood out as the most consistently reported issue. It often occurred alone or alongside problems such as muscle and joint pain, brain fog, or breathlessness. Other symptom pairings that appeared frequently included loss of smell and taste, anxiety with depression, and various forms of musculoskeletal pain.

When researchers classified patients based on affected organ systems, respiratory problems were the most widespread, seen in about 47% of long COVID patients. Neurological symptoms followed at 31%, while gastrointestinal issues were reported by 28%. The authors stressed that these percentages reflect how often these clusters appeared within long COVID cases studied, not how common they are in the general population.

A smaller number of studies sorted patients by how severe their symptoms were, dividing them into mild, moderate, or severe categories using symptom scores, symptom counts, or quality-of-life measures. Three studies used clinical indicators for classification, including abnormal triglyceride levels and signs of restricted lung function on imaging.

COVID Symptoms 2026: Women Report Fatigue More Often

The review also found that long COVID subtypes vary based on demographic, socioeconomic, and medical factors. Women were more likely to report fatigue and neuropsychiatric symptoms, while men more commonly experienced respiratory issues. Older adults tended to show higher rates of respiratory, cardio-renal, and ear, nose, and throat symptoms.

Racial and ethnic differences also emerged. Black and Hispanic individuals were more likely to experience respiratory, cardiac, and neuropsychiatric symptoms, whereas White patients showed higher rates of fatigue and musculoskeletal complaints.

COVID-19 variants appeared to influence symptom patterns as well. The researchers noted that the Alpha variant was closely linked to smell-related and respiratory symptoms, while the Delta variant raised the risk of ENT-related problems. In addition, higher body mass index, socioeconomic disadvantage, and existing conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were strongly associated with cardiopulmonary symptom clusters and a heavier overall long COVID burden.

Overall, the findings reinforce that long COVID rarely affects just one system in the body. Instead, it tends to involve multiple overlapping symptom groups, pointing to the need for more tailored, patient-specific care.

The authors call for future studies to focus on creating standardized ways to classify long COVID, identifying the biological mechanisms behind different symptom clusters, and testing targeted treatments for specific subtypes. They note that this approach will be essential for moving toward precision medicine and improving outcomes for people living with long COVID.

Measles is one of the most infectious illnesses known, and as case numbers rise across the United States, health experts warn the country is close to losing its measles elimination status. The current surge marks the highest number of measles cases recorded since the disease was officially eliminated in the U.S. in 2000. In 2025 alone, more than 2,100 cases have been reported nationwide. Texas has emerged as the hardest-hit state, accounting for roughly two out of every five confirmed infections. So just how easily does measles spread?

Measles Cases Increase In The US

As of January 8, a total of 2,065 measles cases had been confirmed across the country, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The last time the U.S. recorded a higher annual total was in 1992, before the routine recommendation of two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine for children, CNN reported.

Several major outbreaks remain active, including one in upstate South Carolina and another along the Arizona-Utah border. These clusters have renewed fears that the U.S. could lose its measles elimination status, which it has maintained for more than two decades. While measles spreads easily, vaccination remains highly effective. One dose of the MMR vaccine offers about 93% protection, and two doses increase effectiveness to 97%, according to the CDC.

What Is Measles?

Measles, also known as rubeola, is a highly contagious viral illness that typically causes fever, cough, a runny nose, red and watery eyes, and a distinctive red, blotchy rash that usually begins on the face and spreads downward. The virus spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes and can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia or brain inflammation. Despite its severity, measles is preventable through a safe and effective vaccine, as per the Mayo Clinic.

How Contagious Is Measles?

Measles is among the most contagious diseases in the world. The virus spreads through airborne droplets that can linger in the air or on surfaces for hours. Up to 90% of unvaccinated people who are exposed to measles will become infected. A single infected person can pass the virus to an estimated 12 to 18 others through close contact or shared spaces. People can transmit the virus days before symptoms become obvious and continue spreading it after the rash appears, according to the World Health Organization.

How Long Is Someone Contagious With Measles?

Someone infected with measles can spread the virus from four days before the rash develops to four days after it appears. The virus spreads so efficiently that about 90% of people who are unvaccinated or have never had measles will become infected after being exposed.

In November, Canada lost its measles elimination status following a significant outbreak, according to the Pan American Health Organization, which works closely with the World Health Organization.

“It’s important to say that all the other 34 countries in the region, they keep their certification as measles-free,” said PAHO/WHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa at the time, as per NPR News.

U.S. health officials have also warned that genetic links between outbreaks in different states suggest continued spread.

“The trajectory that we’re looking at now is that we do anticipate more cases well into January,” Bell said. “What that means for us nationally in terms of how they are defining our designation in this country as having eliminated measles is unclear.”

A major UK study tracking more than 165,000 people living with dementia has found that risperidone raises the risk of stroke across all patients, calling into question the long-held belief that the drug may be safe for certain groups.

Risperidone is a potent antipsychotic commonly given to people with dementia who develop severe agitation, particularly in care homes, when non-medicated approaches have failed.

Researchers observed that the risk of stroke rose even in patients with no previous history of heart disease or stroke. The finding challenges assumptions about who can safely take the drug and has prompted fresh concerns about how risperidone, the only medication of its kind licensed for dementia, is prescribed and followed up.

The findings, published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, are likely to fuel renewed discussion around current prescribing practices.

What Is Risperidone?

Risperidone, sold under brand names such as Risperdal and Risperdal Consta, is an atypical antipsychotic that affects brain chemicals including dopamine and serotonin. It is a prescription-only drug.

Risperidone: Risk Holds Across Patient Profiles

One of the study’s key insights was that the increased stroke risk appeared consistent across different types of patients, according to Dr Byron Creese of Brunel University of London. “We already knew risperidone was linked to stroke, but it was unclear whether some people were more vulnerable than others. We hoped to identify traits that could help doctors avoid prescribing it to higher-risk patients,” he said, as reported by Scitech Daily.

About half of all people with dementia experience agitation, which can be deeply upsetting for both patients and carers. When other methods do not help, risperidone is sometimes used as a last measure. The new evidence sharpens the difficult choices doctors and families face, weighing the drug’s ability to ease extreme distress against its clearly increased stroke risk.

Risperidone: Gaps In Guidance And Monitoring

Risperidone, often used to manage aggressive behaviour, already carries warnings about stroke risk in older adults. However, there is still no dementia-specific guidance on how clinicians should monitor these risks. While NHS advice limits risperidone use to six weeks for severe symptoms, many patients remain on it longer, with follow-up practices differing widely.

Dr Creese noted that there are no UK-licensed alternatives for such cases, making it essential that risks are clearly discussed and carefully balanced. People who have already had a stroke are naturally at higher risk of another. If a stroke occurs while taking risperidone, it may not always be possible to separate drug-related risk from underlying vulnerability. “These results give clearer information to guide decisions,” he said. “Each case should come down to what is right for the individual, through open conversations between doctors, patients, and families.”

What The Data Proves

Researchers examined anonymized NHS records from 2004 to 2023, comparing patients prescribed risperidone with similar individuals who were not. Among those with a prior stroke, the annual rate per 1,000 person-years rose to 22.2 percent in people taking risperidone, compared with 17.7 percent in those who were not. In patients without a stroke history, rates were lower but still notable at 2.9 percent versus 2.2 percent. The risk was also higher during short-term use of up to 12 weeks, according to Scitech Daily.

“We hope this evidence helps shape updated guidance that is more focused on individual patients and real-world risk,” Dr Creese said.