Patients with Morgellons disease may shed unusual particles from the skin described as fibers, “sand” or seed-like black specks, or crystallized particles.
Blackheads are a common issue faced by a lot of people, especially those with oily skin. They are small bumps that appear on your skin due to clogged hair follicles. Generally, people resort to squeezing whenever they spot tiny black dots on their noses.
Morgellons disease is a condition characterized by a belief that parasites or fibers are emerging from the skin. People with this condition often report feeling as if something is crawling on or stinging their skin.
Dracunculosis is characterized by chronic skin ulcers. Tissue under the skin is infiltrated by developing larvae of the parasitic worm known as Dracunculus medinensis, or Guinea worm. A female worm ready to release larvae produces stinging elevated spots (papules), causing redness and itching of the skin.
The most common symptoms of scabies, itching and a skin rash, are caused by sensitization (a type of “allergic” reaction) to the proteins and feces of the parasite. Severe itching (pruritus), especially at night, is the earliest and most common symptom of scabies.
Skin rash may appear as petechiae and purpura over the trunk and extremities. The massive migration of larvae within the skin causes small blood vessels under the skin to break and bleed out.
Horsehair worms, part of the taxonomic phylum Nematomorpha, are parasitic worms that resemble long thin strands of hair (hence their nickname).
Named for the Greek word for gold (“chrȳsós”), worms in the family Chrysopetalidae really do glitter like the precious metal. Believe it or not, that 24-karat shine is the product of a lustrous mane that we humans could only hope for.
The majority of people infected with Strongyloides do not have symptoms. Those who do develop symptoms often have non-specific, or generalized complaints. Some people develop abdominal pain, bloating, heartburn, intermittent episodes of diarrhea and constipation, a dry cough, and skin rashes.
The exact cause of the condition remains unknown. However, some healthcare professionals and researchers believe Morgellons disease results from a tick-borne bacterial infection, similar to Lyme disease, while others believe it is a mental health disorder.
There are two medications that can be used to treat the infection and manage the symptoms. The treatment of choice is diethylcarbamazine (DEC), which kills the microfilariae and adult worms. Albendazole is sometimes used in patients who are not cured with multiple DEC treatments.
All patients had allergic skin manifestations (rash and hives) and angioedema due to their intestinal parasites, which remitted after antiparasitic treatment. Results: Forty (73.3%) patients presented angioedema and 15 patients (26.6%) had chronic rash.
Black specks or flecks can be old blood present in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Because blood in the stool can be a medical emergency, it's important to understand when to worry about black specks in stool.
Black specks occur when heat gradually degrades thermoplastic molecules, breaking them down into carbon residues. This commonly happens during machine shutdowns/startups. This is why most of our customers would call us with blacks dots issues on Mondays!
The body of the parasite revealed deep purple color [Figure 1]. S. stercoralis, an intestinal nematode, occurs in tropical and subtropical areas, especially in areas with poor sanitation. Adult female parasites are 2-3 mm long and live buried in the mucosa of the duodenum, where they reproduce parthenogenetically.
Ascariasis worms are typically pink or white with tapered ends. Female worms can be more than 15 inches (40 centimeters) long and a little less than a quarter inch (6 millimeters) in diameter. Male worms are generally smaller. Ascariasis (as-kuh-RIE-uh-sis) is a type of roundworm infection.
The signs and symptoms of anisakiasis are abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, abdominal distention, diarrhea, blood and mucus in stool, and mild fever. Allergic reactions with rash and itching, and infrequently, anaphylaxis, can also occur.
They probably look like bits of dirt at first glance, but they are actually tiny soil animals known as snow fleas. Officially, they are called springtails and are not actually fleas (or even technically insects).
Nematodes are generally wormlike and cylindrical in shape, often tapering at the head and tail ends; they are sometimes called roundworms or eelworms.
Bearcorn (Conopholis americana) is one of those plants that really challenges mainstream assumptions of what a plant should look like. It produces no leaves, no chlorophyll, and all you ever see of it are its strange reproductive structures.
Schistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia, is a disease caused by parasitic worms. Although the worms that cause schistosomiasis are not found in the United States, people are infected worldwide. In terms of impact this disease is second only to malaria as the most devastating parasitic disease.
Giardia is arguably the most common parasite infection of humans worldwide, and the second most common in the United States after pin-worm.
The signs of a parasite are often caused by the toxins that it releases into the human bloodstream. Here are the most common symptoms: Unexplained constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating, nausea or other symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. You traveled internationally and got diarrhea on your trip.
Hookworms are found in dogs and cats. Exposure to moist sand that has been contaminated by dog or cat feces can cause creeping eruption. Creeping eruption appears as a winding, snake-like rash with blisters and itching. Creeping eruption may be treated with antiparasitic medicines.