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People can be infected with gastrointestinal parasites in a number of ways, and the problem may go undiagnosed for years, says gastroenterologist Robynne Chutkan. To learn about the causes of parasitic gastrointestinal infections, watch this video.
The parasitic gastrointestinal infections are actually caused by parasites. And millions of people not just overseas but here in the US have parasites and don't know it. So, these organisms can live inside our digestive tracts for years and can go undetected. They can cause a number of conditions from irritable bowel syndrome to gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, weight loss.
Most people are exposed through contaminated water. We know that a lot of city water supplies are older and they don't have adequate filtration. We also know a lot of these parasites aren't killed of by chlorine in the water, so contaminated water is a huge way in which most of us become infected.
Another way is contaminated fruits and vegetables. So, if contaminated feces containing parasites has come into contact with your food and you eat it, it's a very common way for you yourself to become infected.
Robynne Chutkan, MD, is a board certified gastroenterologist and the founder and medical director of the Digestive Center for Women, an integrative practice that includes nutritional optimization, exercise and stress reduction.
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