Monsters inside us - yes they live in your body

Remember back in the day when our parents told us to eat all of our food on the plate because some food would help us get rid of worms in our bodies?

At the time, the concept might have seemed ridiculous and an urban legend contrived to force us to eat our vegetables, but it turns out that the elders may have been onto something after all.

The thought of a living organism inside one's body is enough to make anyone's skin crawl, but yes, there are worms living inside our bodies.

Most people have a fear of encountering creepy crawlies in everyday life, so what could be more terrifying than them actually living, breeding and feeding off our insides?

This is the scary reality of what could happen if you happen to have a parasitic infection.

So, how do these revolting parasites make their way into our insides, and more importantly, what can one do to rid themselves of these monsters inside us?

Doctor Karen Mauerberger says that parasitic infections can occur in a number of ways.

"People can get parasitic infections by eating contaminated meat, particularly contaminated beef or pork. Another more common way is coming in contact with contaminated faecal matter."

Mauerberger says this can happen by coming in contact with public rest room door handles, picking up after a dog, and even stepping on some faecal matter.

"This is where one could experience a hand-to-mouth transfusion, because the truth is that we touch our lips more often throughout the day than we think. People underestimate the importance of washing one's hands and having a strict hygienic attitude," she says.

Mauerberger breaks down the list of parasites one could find living inside them.

1. Tapeworms

"These are quite nasty parasites that grow into worms that are incredibly long in length. They prefer to stay in a person's intestines, and the tricky thing about them is that their symptoms are often misdiagnosed as having typical stomach cramps or irritable bowel syndrome.

"But usually an indication of a tapeworm infection can be detecting white small grains in your stool. This, combined with the symptoms of vomiting or diarrhoea, should propel one to immediately seek medical attention."

So how can you banish the tapeworm out of your bowels?

Mauerberger says a tapeworm infection is easily treatable.

"A batch of anti-parasitic tablets usually does the trick. Your general practitioner should be able to conduct some tests as to what type of infestation you are exposed to and treat you accordingly," she says.

2. Hookworms

"Hookworms thrive in areas where there is poor sanitation. This can include people with no proper toilet system having to relieve themselves in open spaces where other people often walk and frequent.

"The scary thing about hookworms is that their larvae can enter your body by direct contact, meaning that you do not have to necessarily ingest anything infected in order to become infected yourself. Stepping on infected faecal matter with bare feet is usually enough."

She adds that people with the pika syndrome, who have an addiction to soil, can also run the risk of ingesting infected soil. Other ways of contracting this infestation is eating fruits and raw vegetables with soil residue, which may contain hookworm larvae.

The larvae enter your bloodstream through the skin and make their way to your lungs. Once they are fully developed, they make their way to your intestines, and can live up to a full year, feeding off your blood.

This usually results in the infected person developing anaemia.

"Initially, a hookworm infection does not present any symptoms, except a small rash that occurs when the larvae break through your skin. At a later stage, when they make their way to your intestines, there may be symptoms of stomach cramps or diarrhoea."

Mauerberger says that treating a hookworm infection involves your doctor prescribing some anti-parasitic drugs to destroy the worms, and also iron supplements to curb anaemia.

3. Threadworms

The threadworm gets its name from looking like a tiny white thread when examined under the microscope.

They generally live in the intestines, but over time they make their way to the anal area and lay their eggs there.

The result will be the symptoms of terrible itching around the anus, which, as a result of the host scratching vigorously, can leave them with irritated, bleeding and broken skin around the area.

"The threadworm is another infestation that can be passed on by indirectly ingesting faecal matter through a lack of proper hygiene, although they have also been known to infest the human body that comes in contact with infested bedding or even clothing."

Treatment involves anti-parasitic drugs recommended by your doctor.