{"id":20388,"date":"2023-04-05T13:16:58","date_gmt":"2023-04-05T18:16:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/?p=20388"},"modified":"2023-04-24T13:19:33","modified_gmt":"2023-04-24T18:19:33","slug":"7-common-parasites-to-watch-out-for","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/7-common-parasites-to-watch-out-for\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Common Parasites to Watch Out For"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you squirm at the word <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">parasite<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, you\u2019re not alone. The very concept is gruesome: These pesky organisms can infect your intestines, your blood and even your brain.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While some are confined to small corners of the globe, you can come across common parasites in everyday life. In fact, millions of Americans contract parasitic infections each year \u2014 sometimes without knowing it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To help demystify their impact, we asked experts for advice on avoiding parasites, how to identify whether you\u2019ve contracted one and where to find help.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>What are parasites?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAny organism that lives inside us and obtains nutrients while causing harm to us is called a parasite,\u201d says Dr. Vani George, an physician and assistant professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Intestinal parasites like tapeworm are an obvious example, but many kinds of parasitic organisms can infect different parts of the body.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The three main classes of parasites that infect humans are:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Protozoa (single-celled organisms like Giardia)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Helminths (worms like roundworms and tapeworms)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ectoparasites (tiny bugs like scabies mites)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>What do parasites do?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parasites can cause everything from diarrhea and stomach cramps to skin issues like itchy rashes or welts. Some might not even cause symptoms at all.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A few rare parasites can quickly overwhelm the body and lead to death, like the dreaded <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/parasites\/naegleria\/general.html\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Naegleria fowleri<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. You may have seen scary headlines about people succumbing to this brain-eating amoeba after a trip to a swimming hole or water park. It infects people when contaminated water enters the body via the nose \u2014 which can happen when you put your head underwater while swimming.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your chances of contracting one of these deadly parasites is extremely small. It\u2019s much more important to understand common parasites and how to avoid them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI don\u2019t really talk about these particularly scary ones with my travel patients,\u201d said Dr. Jessica Fairley, an associate professor of medicine and global health at Emory University in Atlanta whose work <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.emoryhealthcare.org\/centers-programs\/travelwell\/index.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">can include<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> advising Centers for Disease Control and Prevention employees and others on safe international travel. \u201cBut generally, the things I tell people to help prevent common parasites are useful for rarer ones too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most parasites are treatable with medicine, but it\u2019s important to take care of them as soon as possible, no matter the extent of your symptoms. Even common parasites,<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">like tapeworms or toxoplasmosis,<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">can cause serious issues like seizures or pregnancy complications down the line.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are some of the most common parasites:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Giardia<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/parasites\/giardia\/index.html#:~:text=Giardia%20is%20a%20tiny%20parasite,if%20you%20swallow%20Giardia%20germs.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Giardia<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a waterborne parasite, common in both humans and pets, which you can contract through contact with contaminated food, objects, water or surfaces.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most common way people get Giardia is through contaminated drinking water. The parasite causes giardiasis, which can cause diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting and dehydration, fatigue and, in some cases, fever, itching or swelling of the eyes and joints.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The parasite resides in freshwater lakes and streams worldwide. To avoid Giardia while traveling, Fairley recommends drinking bottled or well-filtered water and avoiding raw fruit and vegetables unless they have a peel you remove before eating. When hiking or camping, only drink from freshwater sources after filtering through a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/parasites\/crypto\/gen_info\/filters.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">proper water filter<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you suspect you\u2019ve contracted Giardia, you might want to see a medical provider, who can take a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/parasites\/giardia\/medical-professionals.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stool sample<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to check for signs of the parasite. Symptoms can last from two to six weeks, but your provider can prescribe antiparasitic medications to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/parasites\/giardia\/general-info.html#:~:text=Symptoms%20generally%20last%20anywhere%20from,amount%20of%20time%20symptoms%20last.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">shorten<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> their duration.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Pinworms<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/parasites\/pinworm\/gen_info\/faqs.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pinworms<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, also known as threadworms, are small worms about the size of a staple that only live in the colon and rectal area of humans.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They\u2019re most common in young children and can spread quickly via contaminated surfaces in childcare settings. These parasites can cause itching in the perineal area (in and around the anus). Typically, symptoms are mild.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you suspect you or your child has contracted pinworms, your medical provider will look for signs of the eggs or the actual worms on the body, clothes or bedding. Pinworms are easily treated through prescription or over-the-counter medication.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Because pinworms can survive a long time on clothing and bedding, it\u2019s important to clean thoroughly and keep the infected person\u2019s items away from others in the household. To avoid pinworms, hygiene is paramount, says George: \u201cPractice good hygiene by washing your hands frequently.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Because pinworms are most common in children, they should receive help washing their hands with soap after using the bathroom. If you\u2019re changing diapers, wash your hands thoroughly before and after.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Scabies<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/scabies\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20377378\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scabies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are small mites that burrow under the skin, causing intense itchiness and a telltale rash. They can spread quickly via close person-to-person contact, especially in close quarters like nursing homes, schools and daycare centers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Extended scabies infections can cause sores. If left untreated, the sores can become seriously infected. If you have a persistent, itchy rash on your hands, arms, genitals or shoulder blades, schedule a doctor\u2019s visit to get it evaluated.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/wwwnc.cdc.gov\/travel\/diseases\/scabies\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">avoid scabies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, avoid close skin-to-skin contact with a person with a scabies rash and don\u2019t touch or handle bedding or clothes from someone with scabies.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Malaria<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Globally, malaria is one of the most common parasitic infections. It\u2019s caused by several different types of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/stanfordhealthcare.org\/medical-conditions\/primary-care\/malaria\/types.html\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plasmodium<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">single-celled organisms that are transferred to humans through mosquitos bites.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Malaria symptoms vary widely, depending on the type of parasite involved and the severity of the disease. Some patients experience minor symptoms like fevers, chills, sweating, body aches and headaches. More severe malaria can cause serious anemia, coma, respiratory distress, kidney failure and other symptoms, some of which can lead to death.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have traveled to a place where malaria is present and you have any symptoms of malaria, visit a doctor right away. They will administer a blood test to check for malaria and prescribe treatment if you have it. In general, proper treatment should eliminate the malaria parasite from your body.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anyone traveling to a region with malaria should take preventive measures ahead of time. The CDC maintains an up-to-date list of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/malaria\/travelers\/country_table\/a.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">malaria information by country<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Based on where you\u2019re traveling and your health specifics (age, whether you\u2019re pregnant, etc.), a medical provider can prescribe you the correct antimalarial drug. Avoiding mosquito bites is also important. \u201cUse insect repellent specifically containing DEET,\u201d George says. \u201cBed nets are also very effective in preventing mosquito bites.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Cryptosporidium<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cryptosporidium, often called \u201ccrypto,\u201d is a waterborne parasite that can cause cryptosporidiosis, which exhibits similar symptoms to giardiasis. These include diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, weight loss and fever.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can contract crypto through contaminated water, food and surfaces. It can also survive in low levels of chlorine, so <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/healthywater\/pdf\/swimming\/resources\/cryptosporidium-factsheet.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">outbreaks sometimes occur<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in public pools.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For most healthy people, crypto resolves without treatment. If you think you have crypto, drink lots of fluids as you eliminate the parasite. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/parasites\/crypto\/general-info.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contact your doctor<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> if your symptoms worsen or don\u2019t go away after seven to10 days.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To avoid cryptosporidium while traveling or hiking\/backpacking, drink bottled or filtered and treated water. Avoid raw fruit and vegetables without a thick peel, and don\u2019t drink ice made from tap water.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Toxoplasma<\/h3>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Toxoplasma gondii <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is a single-celled protozoan that causes toxoplasmosis in humans. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/parasites\/toxoplasmosis\/epi.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Researchers estimate<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> about 11 percent of the US population 6 years and older has been infected.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can contract toxoplasma by eating undercooked meat or shellfish or by eating other contaminated foods. It can also spread through cat feces. Symptoms include mild flu-like symptoms that last for a few weeks, including swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches and fevers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In rarer cases, toxoplasma can cause an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3770869\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">infection in the eye,<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> leading to blurred vision or mild eye pain. If untreated, this can cause permanent eye damage or vision loss.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you think you\u2019ve got toxoplasmosis, your doctor can confirm with a blood test. If you\u2019re at higher risk from pregnancy or being immunocompromised, medications can treat toxoplasmosis. To avoid it, hygiene is key: Wash hands regularly with soap and hot water, and wash fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating. Be sure your meat is cooked to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foodsafety.gov\/food-safety-charts\/safe-minimum-internal-temperatures\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">proper temperature<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Keep cat litter far away from your cooking and dining area, and if you have a sandbox, keep it covered to prevent cats from pooping in it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Tapeworms<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tapeworms are worm parasites that live in the small intestine. While not very common, especially in the US, they can be contracted by <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mountsinai.org\/health-library\/diseases-conditions\/tapeworm-infection-beef-or-pork\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">eating contaminated fish or meat<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, generally beef or pork. Because the eggs can survive outside the host, unlike the adult worm, you can also contract a tapeworm through contaminated water or surfaces.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tapeworms may cause no symptoms at all, or they may cause stomach aches or nausea, diarrhea or gas, weight loss, hunger pains or a lack of appetite. In some more advanced cases, the tapeworm larvae can travel to other parts of the body, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/diseases\/23950-tapeworm-infection\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">creating cysts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the organs, spinal cord or brain. These cysts can cause neurological issues or organ disruption, although <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2725874\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">these cases are rare<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Once diagnosed through a stool sample, tapeworms are easily treated with medicine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/parasites\/taeniasis\/prevent.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">avoid tapeworm<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, cook meat to proper temperatures. Wash hands frequently with soap and water.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>General tips for avoiding parasites while traveling<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No matter where you\u2019re going, knowing the risks ahead of time is important. \u201cTalk to your healthcare provider before traveling to determine if any additional precautions, medications or vaccinations are necessary based on your individual health and travel plans,\u201d says George.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During your travels, Fairley says to \u201cbe cautious about the same things we would do to avoid food poisoning or traveler\u2019s diarrhea.\u201d That includes drinking bottled or filtered water, avoiding raw fruit and vegetables without a peel and not swimming in very warm freshwater bodies like lakes or ponds, where parasites can spread.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you do get sick while traveling, don\u2019t panic. Diarrhea and an upset stomach are common while traveling to new places and will generally pass with good hydration. \u201cPeople can get carried away thinking they have parasites when they don\u2019t,\u201d Fairley said. \u201cIt\u2019s just good to be prepared.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Need a doctor? Find one on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/\">Zocdoc<\/a>.<\/h1>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When to get a gut check. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67,"featured_media":20389,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[227],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20388","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guides","reviewer-dr-nassim-assefi"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>7 Common Parasites to Watch Out For - Guides<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"When to get a gut check.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/7-common-parasites-to-watch-out-for\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"7 Common Parasites to Watch Out For - Guides\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"When to get a gut check.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/7-common-parasites-to-watch-out-for\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Paper Gown\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-04-05T18:16:58+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-04-24T18:19:33+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/zocdoc.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/parasite-hero.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"846\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"460\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Rachel Garbus\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Rachel Garbus\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/7-common-parasites-to-watch-out-for\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/7-common-parasites-to-watch-out-for\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Rachel Garbus\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/f32195e6373e3819debafbefcf0cfd49\"},\"headline\":\"7 Common Parasites to Watch Out For\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-04-05T18:16:58+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-04-24T18:19:33+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/7-common-parasites-to-watch-out-for\/\"},\"wordCount\":1701,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/7-common-parasites-to-watch-out-for\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/thepapergown.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/parasite-hero.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Guides\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/7-common-parasites-to-watch-out-for\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/7-common-parasites-to-watch-out-for\/\",\"name\":\"7 Common Parasites to Watch Out For - Guides\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/7-common-parasites-to-watch-out-for\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/7-common-parasites-to-watch-out-for\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/thepapergown.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/parasite-hero.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-04-05T18:16:58+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-04-24T18:19:33+00:00\",\"description\":\"When to get a gut check.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/7-common-parasites-to-watch-out-for\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/7-common-parasites-to-watch-out-for\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/7-common-parasites-to-watch-out-for\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/thepapergown.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/parasite-hero.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/thepapergown.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/parasite-hero.jpg\",\"width\":846,\"height\":460},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/7-common-parasites-to-watch-out-for\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Guides\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/category\/guides\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"7 Common Parasites to Watch Out For\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"The Paper Gown\",\"description\":\"Stories for and about patients\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Zocdoc\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/thepapergown.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/ZD-logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/thepapergown.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/ZD-logo.png\",\"width\":2059,\"height\":1049,\"caption\":\"Zocdoc\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/f32195e6373e3819debafbefcf0cfd49\",\"name\":\"Rachel Garbus\",\"description\":\"Rachel Garbus is a writer based in Atlanta, Georgia. Follow her on Twitter @rachel_garbus.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/author\/rachelgarbus\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"7 Common Parasites to Watch Out For - Guides","description":"When to get a gut check.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/7-common-parasites-to-watch-out-for\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"7 Common Parasites to Watch Out For - Guides","og_description":"When to get a gut check.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/7-common-parasites-to-watch-out-for\/","og_site_name":"The Paper Gown","article_published_time":"2023-04-05T18:16:58+00:00","article_modified_time":"2023-04-24T18:19:33+00:00","og_image":[{"width":846,"height":460,"url":"https:\/\/zocdoc.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/parasite-hero.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Rachel Garbus","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Rachel Garbus","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/7-common-parasites-to-watch-out-for\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/7-common-parasites-to-watch-out-for\/"},"author":{"name":"Rachel Garbus","@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/f32195e6373e3819debafbefcf0cfd49"},"headline":"7 Common Parasites to Watch Out For","datePublished":"2023-04-05T18:16:58+00:00","dateModified":"2023-04-24T18:19:33+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/7-common-parasites-to-watch-out-for\/"},"wordCount":1701,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/7-common-parasites-to-watch-out-for\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/thepapergown.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/parasite-hero.jpg","articleSection":["Guides"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/7-common-parasites-to-watch-out-for\/","url":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/7-common-parasites-to-watch-out-for\/","name":"7 Common Parasites to Watch Out For - Guides","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/7-common-parasites-to-watch-out-for\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/7-common-parasites-to-watch-out-for\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/thepapergown.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/parasite-hero.jpg","datePublished":"2023-04-05T18:16:58+00:00","dateModified":"2023-04-24T18:19:33+00:00","description":"When to get a gut check.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/7-common-parasites-to-watch-out-for\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/7-common-parasites-to-watch-out-for\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/7-common-parasites-to-watch-out-for\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/thepapergown.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/parasite-hero.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/thepapergown.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/parasite-hero.jpg","width":846,"height":460},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/7-common-parasites-to-watch-out-for\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Guides","item":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/category\/guides\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"7 Common Parasites to Watch Out For"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/","name":"The Paper Gown","description":"Stories for and about patients","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Zocdoc","url":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/thepapergown.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/ZD-logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/thepapergown.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/ZD-logo.png","width":2059,"height":1049,"caption":"Zocdoc"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/f32195e6373e3819debafbefcf0cfd49","name":"Rachel Garbus","description":"Rachel Garbus is a writer based in Atlanta, Georgia. Follow her on Twitter @rachel_garbus.","url":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/author\/rachelgarbus\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20388","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/67"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20388"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20388\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20389"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20388"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20388"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20388"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}