Definition
Prevalence
Symptoms
Causes
Treatment
Prevention
Definition
Dientamoeba fragilis (D. fragilis) is a single-celled intestinal parasite. Dientamoeba is related to flagellate parasites, but has no flagella. D. fragilis moves by using protrusions and can take up food and bacteria. The cells divide by splitting. Protozoa usually form cysts to survive outside the body; until now no clear cyst forms of D.fragilis have been demonstrated. Nevertheless, they may survive outside the body because they are highly contagious. A remarkable phenomenon is that D. fragilis is often found together with the intestinal parasite Blastocystis hominis .
Prevalence
Of all parasites, D.fragilis plays the greatest role in our daily lives because many people are infected with it. Over the years, researchers have established in various population groups how often D. fragilis is found in stool in the laboratory. Scientists in the Netherlands have also published their findings. In people with gastrointestinal complaints, the chance of being infected with D.fragilis is approximately 34%.
Symptoms
Both children and adults experience complaints when infected. Children have abdominal pain more often than children.
When infected, 70 to 90% of children experience complaints
Approximately 30% of adults have symptoms when infected.
Not everyone is affected; you can therefore be a carrier.
– Abdominal pain or a sensation in the abdomen
– Bloated abdomen
– Mushy stools or a changing bowel pattern
– Sometimes diarrhoea
– Flatulence
– Nausea
– Fatigue
– A foggy feeling in the head
– Sometimes skin complaints.
Because a parasitic infection is often not considered with these complaints, it can sometimes take years before the diagnosis is made.
Causes and risk
Infection is acquired through contact with stool from an infected person. This can occur directly via the hands or toilet, or indirectly via objects or food.
A risk factor is:
– Proximity to an infected person
– Occupations involving regular contact with stool, such as nursing and caring for young children.
– Worms can contain Dientamoeba fragilis.
Testing
PCR. The laboratory uses DNA testing, the so-called Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The technique is based on isolating a specific characteristic piece of DNA from D. fragilis from the stool. This is multiplied many times by special equipment (PCR machine) so that it can be measured; one division round is a cycle.
Stool is collected on two different days, increasing the chance of a positive finding.
Advice: Take a stool sample on a day when there are complaints: mushy stools or increased urgency. This increases the chance of finding a parasite.
Diagnosis
Positive. From 16 to 35 cycles means that the parasite is present; this is called a positive result.
Negative. Above 35 cycles is a negative result; no parasites are then present.
With a positive result, testing for worm eggs can also be performed.
Preparation
There are a number of steps required in the event of infection.
I. If you live alone, have no partner
and have complaints, you can be treated, but this is not essential. You can also first change the diet
II. If you have a partner or a family, everyone must be tested.
Everyone who is infected is treated at the same time.
Treatment
– The doctor can prescribe medication. Clioquinol has the best chance of success (75%) and does not affect the gut flora.
– Start a low-starch diet rich in vegetables and herbs one week beforehand; this increases the chance of success.
– Zinc. It is very important to use zinc daily for life, because this mineral is not abundant in the diet and improves resistance. (15 mg for adults and half for children). Use a double dose of zinc during the course.
– A clioquinol course lasts 10 days.
– If there are worms, pinworms, a worm test is started before the course.
needed for proper functioning.
– 7 days after the end of the course, another test is carried out; this is the follow-up check.
Prevention
It is important to prevent contracting an infectious condition. To avoid an infection, you can take a number of measures.
Hand washing.
a. First of all, hands must be washed after using the toilet. The advice is to wash your hands after using the toilet, dry them with a paper towel and use this towel to turn off the tap and open the door, see
b. It is important to wash your hands before eating and to eat at the table from a clean surface, preferably not on the go or behind the computer.
– Hygiene, see other hygiene measures.
– Diet plays an important role. You can stimulate the immune system and improve the composition of the gut flora by eating plenty of vegetables and using products such as seaweed, shiitake mushrooms and herbs. Broth made from bones improves resistance.
– The book Darmklachten discusses diet and natural products that can be used alongside the medical course.
