I happen to have a rather embarrasing (sp?) problem. On and off for the past few months, I've had some below-the-belt problems with itching. I've also been feeling unwell on-and-off at the same time - not enough to interfere with work, but still troubling. Recently, I just read this article and wondered if any of my problems might be due to worms or other parasites. Could any of the pathogens mentioned in the article be the cause of my ails, or is there something else involved? It's starting to worry me.

- Maha Vailo

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When you get down to it, Science answers how. Religion answers why. - hippietrekx

Pin worms are very common with small children who put things in their mouths. Then they can spread them to other members of the household. The eggs are dust size. If one of them enters your mouth, congrats, you have it too.

Embarrassing but easy to deal with. Its the reason you shouldn't eat dirt.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasi...ht_pinworm.htm

Edit: Link didn't load the first time.

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"The beauty of that discussion of averages is that you don't have to be an expert in Apollo or in photography in order to see where this time study "analysis" breaks down. You just have to be, well...not an idiot." -JayUtah

See a doctor as soon as possible.

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Well, I would see a doc, but I couldn't afford it. That's why I want to make sure I know for sure that I'm ill before i go see a doc so I don't waste money.

That said, how would I know if I had any of the endemic parasitic diseases mentioned in the OP? remember, it's not the itchiness that bothers me so (I can live with it), but this general unwell feeling I've been having on occasion.

- Maha Vailo

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When you get down to it, Science answers how. Religion answers why. - hippietrekx

Sorry to sound cold, but could you afford to die? A visit to the doctor is cheap compared to the alternative. Take it from one who knows. My sig is a reminder to myself as to how lucky I am to be here!

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Any day you wake up on "the right side of the dirt" is a good day.

T. Anderson

I second the Kaptain's suggestion. Get to a doctor. Is there a free clinic of some sort around you?

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At night the stars put on a show for free (Carole King)

Kaptain right Maha.

Being stubborn almost killed me as well. I felt "run down" for weeks until I collapsed. Turns out an anti-siezure drug I was taking was shutting my liver down without any jaundice and I nearly died. When I mean nearly I mean I came out of a hepatic coma with the nurse touching my wrist to "time me out".

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"The beauty of that discussion of averages is that you don't have to be an expert in Apollo or in photography in order to see where this time study "analysis" breaks down. You just have to be, well...not an idiot." -JayUtah

Where would I be able to find a free clinic in my neighborhood? I live in a pretty big megalopolis, so there should be one; the problem is finding it.

Also, I'd still love to know what the exact kinds of health problems the US-endemic parasites mentioned in the article in the OP cause. That way, I could rule them out if need be.

- Maha Vailo

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When you get down to it, Science answers how. Religion answers why. - hippietrekx

Too bad Grant isn't here yet.

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"The beauty of that discussion of averages is that you don't have to be an expert in Apollo or in photography in order to see where this time study "analysis" breaks down. You just have to be, well...not an idiot." -JayUtah

Does your area use 211 as a general help service (similar to 911)? If so, call 211. You might also look in the Yellow Pages (either paper or electronically).

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At night the stars put on a show for free (Carole King)

Well, I decided to do a little reseach on the 'net, and I'm about 99% sure that worms aren't the cause of any of my complaints save for the itchy butt. If I did have any of the worms listed in the OP, I'd be having lung and GI problems. For the record, the problem I'm having seems to be that I'm catching more colds and fevers than I usually do this year.

The main reason I was asking this was since I work outdoors, in the soil, in a workplace with free-roaming cats and thus may have been exposed to their creepy-crawlies. So you can see why I was concerned.

- Maha Vailo

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When you get down to it, Science answers how. Religion answers why. - hippietrekx

Now what you mean Maha. I was a greenhouseman for years, miho.

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"The beauty of that discussion of averages is that you don't have to be an expert in Apollo or in photography in order to see where this time study "analysis" breaks down. You just have to be, well...not an idiot." -JayUtah

You can catch a fungal skin condition from sitting water with a large load of organics in it.

There is an OTC treatment but it all escapes me! (It's "Miller Time". Sorry)

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"The beauty of that discussion of averages is that you don't have to be an expert in Apollo or in photography in order to see where this time study "analysis" breaks down. You just have to be, well...not an idiot." -JayUtah

Even in as little as in the seat of a tractor, if its been there a while.

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"The beauty of that discussion of averages is that you don't have to be an expert in Apollo or in photography in order to see where this time study "analysis" breaks down. You just have to be, well...not an idiot." -JayUtah

this might be off some interest for you Maha Vailo

http://www.embarrassingproblems.co.uk/anal_itching.htm

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Great minds discuss ideas,average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people. Admiral Hyman Rickover.USN.

"Make the most of every day like it could be your last and enjoy each others company as this will make good memories for when we pass". chrissy

*A rock is for life not just for throwing*

or it could be the soap you are using!

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Great minds discuss ideas,average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people. Admiral Hyman Rickover.USN.

"Make the most of every day like it could be your last and enjoy each others company as this will make good memories for when we pass". chrissy

*A rock is for life not just for throwing*

Your working areas suggest possibly Lyme disease caused by ticks (indirectly)

THe only initial sign I'm aware of is if you get an infected bite there is a faint red ring around it for a day or two.

http://www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk/basics.htm (2kb)

becoming more common in Britain, a friend of mine had it and ended up for a couple of weeks in hospital feeling completely wiped out. (and took the doctors several days to diagnose).


the other one, spread by rats, is Weil's disease, carried by Rats in Britain, mainly (that I know of) affecting canoeists or similar.

http://www.caveinfo.org.uk/nca/weils.htm (5kb)

I'm not a doctor and suggest you see one as neither of the above go away. (if you are really lucky it might just be prickly heat and flu), I'm sure ther ewill be illnesses local to your country as well.

Also worms can affect different parts of the body at different times (in cattle anyway)

good luck.

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Life is its own god.

Can you please ask the voices in your head to keep the noise down?

Is the itching worst (or only occures) late at night? Then it is pinworms.

But they would have no cause your other symptoms.

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Fiction has to be plausible. Reality is under no such constraint.

Well, I know for sure it's not Lyme. The only things biting me at work are the dadgum skeeters. It's not Weil's, either; I don't have a rash or jaundice or anything, and I suspect that disease would leave you too ill to walk around, let alone work, which mine hasn't.

Also, the itching seems to come and go throughout a 24-hour period - maybe a little worse at night, but not enough to wake me from a sound sleep.

Maybe I've just had some bad luck with colds this year.

- Maha Vailo

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When you get down to it, Science answers how. Religion answers why. - hippietrekx

Well, the other day I was washing where the sun don't shine and I felt what might be a fissure toward the back of the ol' balloon knot. So I guess it might not be worms after all.

Guess it's time to break out the fiber and the 'roid cream....

- Maha "all's well that ends well for a well end" Vailo

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When you get down to it, Science answers how. Religion answers why. - hippietrekx

WAY TMI!!!