What is a Parasitic Infection? | The Generics Pharmacy
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Parasitic infections: causes, symptoms, and medication

Parasites are small organisms that live either in or on another organism, which serves as their host. Some parasites can be microscopic while others are large enough to be seen with the naked eye. When a parasite enters the body, it can cause an infection.

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What is a parasitic infection?

A parasitic infection is an infection that occurs when a parasite enters a body, makes it a host, and causes the host to become sick. Not all parasites can cause a host damage. The ones that do, however, invade organ systems and can even cause death.

What is a protozoal infection?

A protozoal infection is a parasitic infection caused by organisms formerly classified as part of the Kingdom Protozoa. Protozoan infections affect humans as well as plants, animals, and marine life.

Some protozoan infections include:

  • African Sleeping Sickness
  • Amoebic dysentery
  • Malaria

What are the causes of a parasitic infection?

Parasitic infections can be caused by three different types of organisms:

  • Protozoa (as mentioned above)
  • Helminths
  • Ectoparasites

Parasitic infections can spread in different ways. For instance, protozoa and helminths can be spread through contaminated water, food, waste, soil, or blood. It can also be spread through sexual contact. Other parasites are transmitted through insects that act as carriers of the disease, as in the case of malaria.

What are the symptoms of a parasitic infection?

The signs and symptoms of a parasitic infection greatly depend on the parasite involved. For example:

  • Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted parasitic infection that typically does not have any symptoms. For those that do experience symptoms, they feel itching, redness, irritation, and unusual discharge in their genital area.
  • Giardiasis may cause diarrhea, abdominal cramping and bloating, gas, nausea, fatigue, and weight loss. Not everyone with giardiasis experiences symptoms, which makes it easy to pass the infection from one person to another.
  • Cryptosporidiosis patients may experience stomach cramps, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, dehydration, weight loss, and fever.
  • Changas may not cause any symptoms in the first few weeks or months. Once symptoms do arise, these may include mild swelling at the infection site, low fever, body aches and pains, skin rash, headache, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, swollen lymph nodes.

What are the drugs used for parasitic infections?

Medication and treatment will again vary depending on the parasite causing the infection as well as the symptoms being experienced. Some medications used will specifically target the parasite involved while others may relieve you from the symptoms of the parasitic infection.

Possible drugs are:

  • Metronidazole
  • Tinidazole
  • Albendazole
  • Moxidectin
Recommended Medicines for Infection
Isoniazid 300mg Tablet
Isoniazid Tab 300mg (TGP)-100
TGP Tetracycline Hydrochloride capsule
Tetracycline Hydrochloride Cap 500mg (TGP DBRL)-100
Ciprofloxacin 500mg 100 tablets box
Ciprofloxacin Tablets 500mg (TGP) - 100
Clarithromyci tablet 500mg
Clarithromycin FCTab 500mg (TGP)-30
Clindamycin Hydrochloride 150mg 30 capsules box
Clindamycin Cap 150mg (TGP DBRL)-30
Co-amoxiclav Powder For Suspension 200mg
Co-amoxiclav Powder For Susp 200mg/28.5mg/5ml 60ml (TGP DBRL)-1
Co- Amoxiclav Syrup
Co-Amoxiclav PowSusp 250mg 62.5mg 5ml 60ml (TGP DBRL)-1
Amoxicillin Trihydrate 60ML box
Amoxicillin Trihydrate PowSusp 125mg 5ml 60ml (TGP)-1
Cefaclor Powder Suspension 125mg 60ml
Cefaclor PowSusp 125mg 5ml 60ml (TGP DBRL)-1
Cefuroxime Axetil 500mg TGP
Cefuroxime Axetil FCTab 500mg (TGP) - 100
Pyrazinamide-ZYNAPHAR
Pyrazinamide Tab 500mg (ZYNAPHAR)-100
Onecure film-coated tablet
Rifam+INH+PZA+Ethambutol Tab 150/75/400/275 (ONECURE SANDOZ)-60
Picinaf capsule 540mg
Rifampicin Cap 450mg (PICINAF)-100
Rifampicin 450mg 100 capsules box
Rifampicin Cap 450mg (TGP)-100
Aciclovir tablet 400mg box
Aciclovir Tab 400mg (TGP)-100
Pyrantel Pamoate suspension 250mg 60ml
Pyrantel Pamoate Susp 250mg 60ml (TGP)-1
Recommended Medicines for Infection
Isoniazid 300mg Tablet
Isoniazid Tab 300mg (TGP)-100
TGP Tetracycline Hydrochloride capsule
Tetracycline Hydrochloride Cap 500mg (TGP DBRL)-100
Ciprofloxacin 500mg 100 tablets box
Ciprofloxacin Tablets 500mg (TGP) - 100
Clarithromyci tablet 500mg
Clarithromycin FCTab 500mg (TGP)-30
Clindamycin Hydrochloride 150mg 30 capsules box
Clindamycin Cap 150mg (TGP DBRL)-30
Co-amoxiclav Powder For Suspension 200mg
Co-amoxiclav Powder For Susp 200mg/28.5mg/5ml 60ml (TGP DBRL)-1
Co- Amoxiclav Syrup
Co-Amoxiclav PowSusp 250mg 62.5mg 5ml 60ml (TGP DBRL)-1
Amoxicillin Trihydrate 60ML box
Amoxicillin Trihydrate PowSusp 125mg 5ml 60ml (TGP)-1
Cefaclor Powder Suspension 125mg 60ml
Cefaclor PowSusp 125mg 5ml 60ml (TGP DBRL)-1
Cefuroxime Axetil 500mg TGP
Cefuroxime Axetil FCTab 500mg (TGP) - 100
Pyrazinamide-ZYNAPHAR
Pyrazinamide Tab 500mg (ZYNAPHAR)-100
Onecure film-coated tablet
Rifam+INH+PZA+Ethambutol Tab 150/75/400/275 (ONECURE SANDOZ)-60
Picinaf capsule 540mg
Rifampicin Cap 450mg (PICINAF)-100
Rifampicin 450mg 100 capsules box
Rifampicin Cap 450mg (TGP)-100
Aciclovir tablet 400mg box
Aciclovir Tab 400mg (TGP)-100
Pyrantel Pamoate suspension 250mg 60ml
Pyrantel Pamoate Susp 250mg 60ml (TGP)-1
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