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Blastocystis hominis Infection
(BLASS-toe-SIS-tiss HOM-in-iss)
What is Blastocystis hominis?
Blastocystis hominis
is a common microscopic parasitic organism found throughout the world.
Infection with Blastocystis hominis is called blastocystosis (BLASS-toe-SIS-toe-sis.)
What are the symptoms of
infection with Blastocystis?
Watery or loose stools,
diarrhea, abdominal pain, anal itching, weight loss, and excess gas have
all been reported in persons with Blastocystis infection. Many
people have no symptoms at all.
How long will I be infected?
Blastocystis can
remain in the intestines for weeks, months, or years.
Is Blastocystis hominis
the cause of my symptoms?
It is hard to be sure,
and experts disagree on this point. Whether or not B. hominis is
the primary cause of your symptoms is unknown. Finding Blastocystis
in stool samples should be followed up with a careful search for other
possible causes of your symptoms.
Symptoms may be caused
by infection with other parasitic organisms, bacteria, or viruses. Often, B.
hominis is found along with other such organisms that are more likely
to be the cause of your symptoms.
Sometimes symptoms are
not caused by an infection at all. Antibiotics, some cancer drugs, and
medications used to control high blood pressure may be causing your
symptoms. Hormone or endocrine diseases, diseases like Crohn’s, colitis,
or hereditary factors may be the cause of illness. Food additives or food
allergies may also be a cause of abdominal discomfort.
Is having blastocystosis
common?
Yes; in fact many
people have Blastocystis, some without ever having symptoms.
What should I do if I think I
have blastocystosis?
See your health care
provider who will ask you to provide stool samples for testing. Diagnosis
may be difficult, so you may be asked to submit several stool samples.
Is medication available to
treat blastocystosis?
Yes; drugs are
available by prescription to treat blastocystosis; however, sometimes
medication is not effective.
How did I get blastocystosis?
It’s hard to say. How
Blastocystis is transmitted is unknown, although the number of
people infected seems to increase in areas where sanitation and personal
hygiene is inadequate.
How can I prevent infection
with Blastocystis?
- Wash hands with soap
and water after using the toilet and before handling food.
- Avoid water or food
that may be contaminated.
- Wash and peel all
raw vegetables and fruits before eating.
- When traveling in
countries where the water supply may be unsafe, avoid drinking
unboiled tap water and avoid uncooked foods washed with unboiled tap
water. Bottled or canned carbonated beverages, seltzers, pasteurized
fruit drinks, and steaming hot coffee and tea are safe to drink.
- If you work in a
child care center where you change diapers, be sure to wash your hands
thoroughly with plenty of soap and warm water after every diaper
change, even if you wear gloves.
Should I be concerned about
spreading infection to the rest of my household?
No. If you practice
adequate personal hygiene, including thorough hand washing with soap and
warm water after using the toilet and before handling food, there is
little risk of spreading infection.
For more information:
- Albrecht H,
Stellbrink HJ, Koperski K, et al. Blastocystis hominis in human
immunodeficiency virus-related diarrhea. Scand J Gastroenterol
1995;30:909-14.
- Markell EK, Udkow
MP. Blastocystis hominis: pathogen or fellow traveler? Am J
Trop Med Hyg 1986;35:1023-6.
- Miller RA, Minshew
BH. Blastocystis hominis: An organism in search of a disease.
Rev Infect Dis 1988;10:930-8.
- Udkow MP, Markell EK.
Blastocystis hominis: prevalence in asymptomatic versus
symptomatic hosts. J Infect Dis 1993;168:242-4.
- Zuckerman MJ, Watts
MT, Ho H., et al. Blastocystis hominis infection and intestinal
injury. Am J Med Sci 1994;308:96-101.
This fact sheet is for
information only and is not meant to be used for self-diagnosis or as a
substitute for consultation with a health care provider. If you have any
questions about the disease described above or think that you may have a
parasitic infection, consult a health care provider.
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