DIAGNOSIS
If you have diarrhoea and other symptoms, your doctor may order a stool test. Your doctor will review your health history and conduct a physical exam. A variety of laboratory tests aid in the diagnosis of parasitic diseases and other noninfectious induces of gastrointestinal symptoms:
- Endoscopy. If the stool exam doesn’t disclose the cause of your symptoms, your physician may order this test. A special camera on a tube is employed to examine your digestive tract while you are sedated.
- Stool Examination. This test checks for parasites. Your healthcare provider may provide you with a container containing preservative fluid for your stool sample. Keep your samples refrigerated— not frozen—until you take them to your physician’s office or lab.
The existence of these protozoa in your stool simply shows that you have had previous fecal exposure. By swallowing them, for example, by consuming feces-contaminated food or water. This is referred to as fecal-oral transmission.
TREATMENT
Nonpathogenic (harmless) intestinal protozoa do not require treatment because they do not cause disease.
Preventive Measures
If you are still concerned about these conditions, even if they do not cause disease, there are several steps you can take to reduce your risk of contracting a parasitic infection. Here are a few of them:
- Drinking water from streams, ponds, or lakes should be avoided.
- During pregnancy, people should avoid touching poop or any pet litter.
- Consume only cooked foods.
- Before drinking, boil and filter the water.
- Hands should be washed frequently.
