19 Creepy Facts About Parasites
Learn about the tiny creatures that live around and inside you.
Published 10 years ago
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The most deadly human parasites are protozoa, which are single-celled organisms. Some of these tiny creatures (there are over 80,000) have brought humans more misery and death than anything else in history, including wars and famine. The most well known deadly parasitic protozoa is plasmodium, which causes malaria.
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The Naegleria fowleri ameba, or the “brain-eating amoeba,” makes its home in people’s brains. Infection causes brain inflammation, extensive destruction of brain tissue, vomiting, stiff neck, hallucinations, and seizures. After the onset of symptoms, the disease progresses rapidly and causes death within 3–7 days.
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The schistosomiasis worm is a dangerous parasite that can increase the risk of HIV/AIDS infection. Researchers believe this common worm may be responsible for the high rates of HIV infections in women in Africa because of the worm’s behavior in the female body. When women do laundry in the waterways, the worm makes it way up the vaginal canal and creates small sores inside, which open the way for HIV infection.
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