Blastocystis Hominis Infection
Blastocystis hominis (B. hominis) is a common parasitic organism that can only be seen with a microscope (microscopic). It is found throughout the world. An infection with B. hominis is called blastocystosis. It lives in your colon (large intestine). It can remain there for weeks, months or years. Experts are not certain whether or not Blastocystis causes disease, or even if it needs to be treated.
CAUSES
No one knows how people get Blastocystis in their body. The number of people infected seems to increase in areas where sanitation and personal cleanliness is poor. Travelers returning from developing countries seem to be at higher risk for having Blastocystis.
Careful hygiene is important to try to prevent …show more content…
If you or your child is having diarrhea, be sure to drink enough fluids to avoid dehydration.
SEEK MEDICAL CARE IF:
You or your child is not getting better even after following all your caregiver’s directions, or if you get worse.
You or your child develops side effects to your medications.
You or your child is losing weight without dieting.
You or your child develops other abdominal problems: you or your child may need a reevaluation to see if something besides Blastocystis is causing the symptoms.
You or your child has an oral temperature above 102° F (38.9° C).
Your baby is older than 3 months with a rectal temperature of 100.5° F (38.1° C) or higher for more than 1 day.
SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL CARE IF:
You or your child has severe abdominal pain.
You or your child has diarrhea that is not stopping.
You or your child has an oral temperature above 102° F (38.9° C), not controlled by medicine.
Your baby is older than 3 months with a rectal temperature of 102° F (38.9° C) or higher.
Your baby is 3 months old or younger with a rectal temperature of 100.4° F (38° C) or
Blastocystis hominis (B. hominis) is a common parasitic organism that can only be seen with a microscope (microscopic). It is found throughout the world. An infection with B. hominis is called blastocystosis. It lives in your colon (large intestine). It can remain there for weeks, months or years. Experts are not certain whether or not Blastocystis causes disease, or even if it needs to be treated.
CAUSES
No one knows how people get Blastocystis in their body. The number of people infected seems to increase in areas where sanitation and personal cleanliness is poor. Travelers returning from developing countries seem to be at higher risk for having Blastocystis.
Careful hygiene is important to try to prevent …show more content…
If you or your child is having diarrhea, be sure to drink enough fluids to avoid dehydration.
SEEK MEDICAL CARE IF:
You or your child is not getting better even after following all your caregiver’s directions, or if you get worse.
You or your child develops side effects to your medications.
You or your child is losing weight without dieting.
You or your child develops other abdominal problems: you or your child may need a reevaluation to see if something besides Blastocystis is causing the symptoms.
You or your child has an oral temperature above 102° F (38.9° C).
Your baby is older than 3 months with a rectal temperature of 100.5° F (38.1° C) or higher for more than 1 day.
SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL CARE IF:
You or your child has severe abdominal pain.
You or your child has diarrhea that is not stopping.
You or your child has an oral temperature above 102° F (38.9° C), not controlled by medicine.
Your baby is older than 3 months with a rectal temperature of 102° F (38.9° C) or higher.
Your baby is 3 months old or younger with a rectal temperature of 100.4° F (38° C) or