Parasites

Do You Have Blastocystis Hominis Or Dientamoeba Fragilis?

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Ulcerative_colitis“I have come to the conclusion that a good reliable set of bowels is worth more to a man than any quantity of brains”   Josh Billings 1815-1855
After having treated many patients with Candida yeast infections over the years, I have come to understand that not all those who believe they have a yeast infection actually have one. Many patients in fact suffer from SIBO (small intestine bowel overgrowth), others have a combination of bacteria, parasites and yeasts causing all manner of digestive and systemic related problems. Let’s take a look at a very common problem, one that is often overlooked or misdiagnosed by conventional medical practitioners, a problem with bowel parasites, especially two I commonly encounter in my clinical practice, namely Blastocystis Hominis and Dientamoeba Fragilis.
Are you experiencing symptoms including fatigue, stomach pains, constipation, diarrhoea, loose bowel, weight-loss, or brain fog? Maybe you have been diagnosed with a condition such as a Candida yeast infection, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, food intolerance or food allergy?  Well guess what? It may be that you have an infection with common parasites including Blastocystis Hominis or Dientamoeba Fragilis.

What Are Blastocystis Hominis and Dientamoeba Fragilis?

Before I go into more detail about what these parasites can do and the symptoms they produce, let me enlighten you as to what these bugs actually are. Blastocystis Hominis and Dientamoeba Fragilis are tiny microscopic parasites which can be discovered in the stools of a patient and can commonly infect the digestive tract. I’ve found that many doctors tend to turn a blind eye towards these two parasites, telling their patient that “they don’t cause symptoms” and for the patient to “get on with their life, as their is little that can be done”. An incredible 35 – 40 percent of patients we see with irritable bowel syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome in fact have these parasites, but because 5 to 10 percent of normal healthy people have them too, they are virtually ignored as having much potential to cause much pain and suffering. But I can tell you this, these little bugs cause cause you a HUGE amount of suffering for years, even decades. I have seen countless patients who have lived a very poor quality life until these parasites were finally eradicated.

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What Are Symptoms of Blastocystis Hominis and Dientamoeba Fragilis Infection?

It is possible to be infected and become a carrier, yet remain relatively symptom-free. In a normal healthy person, these two little parasites will happily live in a person’s digestive tract and cause little to no harm. This is exactly what we see with Candida albicans as well, in a normal healthy digestive system, Candida will be in balance with other organisms and tend to behave. Unfortunately, when out of balance, they can cause a lots of problems that not only include digestive system complaints, but many other symptoms affecting the entire body.

Here are the most common signs and symptoms of parasite infection:

  • Diarrhoea
  • Constipation
  • Mushy or very loose stools
  • Rectal itching
  • Nausea
  • Abdominal pain
  • Abdominal cramps
  • Bloating
  • Flatulence or lots of gas

Here are the less common signs and symptoms, more likely to occur if you have been infected for a long time:

  • Blood in stools
  • Fevers now and then
  • Nausea and/or vomiting
  • Headaches
  • Itching
  • Weight-loss
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Brain fog
  • Feeling spaced-out after eating certain foods
  • Depression

The terrible thing I have seen is that there are too many patients who present with these chronic symptoms often for many years, they have been misdiagnosed or told they are suffering with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or sent to a Dietician or even given a prescription for an antidepressant.

How Do You Get A Blastocystis Hominis or Dientamoeba Fragilis Infection?

These two microscopically tiny parasites are found in most countries throughout the world today. They tend to be much more common in Third World countries, or in places with less sanitation or poor hygiene standards. My guess is that water is one of the easiest ways of transmission, but the risk is high with foods and drinks in general. Exposure to animals is another common route of transmission, but I think the quickest way to get Blastocystis Hominis and Dientamoeba Fragilis is through poor personal hygiene, ie. not washing hands.

How can Blastocystis Hominis and Dientamoeba Fragilis be diagnosed?

The most definitive test is the CDSA x 3, a test that includes taking three stool samples taken on three concurrent days. A good stool test will not only correctly diagnose if there is a problem with Blastocystis Hominis and Dientamoeba Fragilis, but will reveal much more information, such as the level of beneficial bacteria, inflammation, digestive antibody levels (sIgA), tumor markers, and much more. Please contact me if you want more information, a stool test is available to you if you desire and at a much reduced rate than you would normally have to pay.

How Do I Treat Blastocystis Hominis and Dietamoeba Fragilis?

There are different ways to approach the problem of parasites, there is the “natural” way and then there is the pharmaceutical method of a combination of these two methods. Treatment depends on the severity and duration of the complaints. A very successful treatment program involves Triple Therapy, and was originally developed by Professor Thomas Borody, a doctor who became famous for his work on teh development of triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. In the late 1980s, Borody worked with Dr. Barry Marshal and Dr. Robin Warren (who later received a Nobel prize for their ground breaking research into Helicobacter pylori), and is considered to be the first physician to successfully formulate the triple therapy that would later on become the gold standard for treating peptic ulcer disease caused by Helicobacter pylori infection. Today is is recognozed that more than 90 percent of all stomach ulcers are caused by a spiral shaped bacteria called H. pylori. But the interesting thing today is that most medical doctors still “aren’t convinced” that many chronic digestive complaints are cause by parasites such as H. pylori, Blastocystis Hominis and Dientamoeba Fragilis, leaving many of their to suffer in silence for years.

Triple therapy for H. pylori involves a combination of bismuth, metronidazole and tetracycline. A number of other commonly prescribed drugs are available, but many of these have a high failure rate. There are many different powerful natural treatments such as grapefruit seed extract (GSE) and oregano oil that can be used under supervision of a healthcare professional before a form of triple therapy is seriously considered. I am not averse the use of drugs to eradicate Blastocystis Hominis and Dientamoeba Fragilis, because I know just how difficult these parasites can be to eradicate. You may be thinking “This is crazy, recommending an antibiotic, after all I have Candida!”. But wait one moment, what if you DON’T have Candida, what if you have an infection with Blastocystis Hominis and Dientamoeba Fragilis instead? Now you can understand why testing is very smart, before you spend all that money on treatments, first assess what yo are dealing with.

Can Blastocystis Hominis and Dientamoeba Fragilis Be Cured?

It makes sense to test before and after treatment. In my experience, over 75 percent of Blastocystis can be cleared very quickly with an effective treatment upfront. In many cases there will be a recurrence over time, and this is when a second and even third treatment are often necessary for a complete clearance and cessation of symptoms. Dientamoeba Fragilis is n easier parasite to eradicate that Blastocystis, and more than 90 percent is cleared relatively quickly, but the same applies here too – recurrence. For most effective parasite treatment it is almost always necessary to treat two to three times at spaced intervals.  Adopting a healthy diet is vital if you want to eradicate parasites like Blastocystis and Dientamoeba, just like it is if you have a Candida yeast infection. You will be able to read al about the right diet on this website.

In my experience, over 75 percent of patients with parasites will be able to succesfully eradicate them with one, two or three effective treatments. There will always be a percentage that have more resistant parasites or have one or several other factors affecting recovery. Food allergies, food intolerances and leaky gut often need attention in such cases.

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How To Prevent Blastocystis Hominis or Dientamoeba Fragilis Infection

  • Carefully wash and peel raw fruits and vegetables before eating (especially when you travel)
  • Avoid contaminated water or foods (especially when you travel)
  • Hand washing is the most important way to prevent parasite infection, teach you children well.
  • Always wash your hands with soap and warm water after using the toilet and before handling food.

Be extremely careful with water when you travel, ensure that water comes from a very clean and reliable source. Check that your plastic drinking bottle has not been re-filled, look at the seal! It happens more often than you think. Only consume boiled tap water, canned, bottled (look at the seal) or bottled carbonated water. Always mare sure that uncooked foods are thoroughly washed with boiled tap water.

 

38 thoughts on “Do You Have Blastocystis Hominis Or Dientamoeba Fragilis?”

  1. I am currently going through the diagnosis process for diemtamoeba fragilis. My advice, if your doctor diagnoses you with dientamoeba fragilis, do NOT take any antibiotics they prescribe until you have spoken with someone at the center for digestive diseases. I took antibiotics from my doctor which didn’t work. Consequently, by the time I found out about the Center for Digestive Diseases, my follow-up samples were showing up as negative for the parasite, even though the symptoms still remain. Therefore, I need to wait another few weeks before I can do another test. I cannot be treated again for the parasite, until the follow-up samples show a positive result for the parasite. From diagnosis until now it has been over two months. Five months in total with the symptoms (people can suffer with this for years, so I can’t complain too much I guess!).

    All in all, if someone finds out they have D fragilis, immediately arrange for a stool test, arrange for a parasite test kit to be sent to you before taking anything prescribed by your medical doctor!

  2. Hi Ladco, thanks for your comments to this post about parasites. I agree entirely, stool testing is THE way to go if you have any signs and symptoms of a parasite infection. It can save you a lot of time, misery and money as well. I’ve seen countless patients who were left for years in the dark, not knowing what was going on, only to discover in time that they had an intestinal parasite infection. I deal with stool testing on a very regular basis and deal only with teh best labs. If anybody is interested, please contact me and I’d be only too happy to put them in touch with a very reputable laboratory.

    1. We are currently battling a dentameba fragilis and pinworm infection inmy4 year old son. My doctor did not want to treat my son bit I insisted and wet only found the pinworms because my colleague checked his stool herself!

      The first time we discovered the d. Fragilis we were all given paramomyocin. 4 weeks later he wad positive again but this time we found the pinworms. He got menbendable and paramomyocin again. Can you offset any advice or further testing. I’m having some symptoms and we have a infant at home also. My stool came back negative. I took the pinworm meds but my doctor would not give me the paramomyocin.

      I’m also worried about my son as he’s been very sick. He’s suffering a lot.

  3. We just moved to the netherlands last year and recently my daughter was having extreme anal and vaginal itching and pain. Our GP sent her stool in for testing and found she had D.fragilis but said not to worry because she didn’t have diarrhea, although she does have occasional gas, bloating, stomach pains. I’m kind of at a loss for her as she has frequent yeast infections, uti-like symptoms, croup every other month, eczema and many other symptoms that are similar to candida. I hesitate to go about the anti-biotic route as I am unsure if it will help. Any advice? She was an emergency c-section, 4years ago and was formula fed with colic and a horrible sleeper with occasional bed wetting still after being potty trained for 2years. I appreciate anything you can do to help ease the pain my little girl has and the guilt I carry for not being able to help her.

    1. Hi Heather,
      Get your daughter’s stool tested with Doctor’s Data in Chicago, USA. They do the best comprehensive stool test, I guarantee that they will find a lot more than Dientamoeba fragilis. They will also test for many other potential pathogens, as well as beneficial bacteria, do a yeast culture, and much more. Here is my link, if you order the test through me you will save hundreds. They send test kits to Holland, goed he’? You will need to learn Dutch now, my second language. Here is the link to Doctor’s Data – https://www.directlabs.com/ericbakkernd/OrderTests.aspx
      Depending on the test results, treatment is certainly warranted. Many doctors simply ignore pathogens if they don’t cause diarrhoea, a symptom they feel is the “primary complaint” caused by parasites. Rubbish, parasites cause a huge problem for many people, and unfortunately in all too many cases these symptoms are then treated as “additional diseases with no known cause” Let me know how you go, I’m happy o interpret the test for a fee, and have worked with stool tests for twenty years. All the best.

  4. I was just diagnosed with this parasite after 10 years of suffering. It was found via stool testing. I see a homeopathic doctor, but I am wondering if his treatments can possibly rid me of d-fragilis. Should I demand a stronger method? The test showed everything else (candida, bacteria, etc) was as it should be. I was also possibly misdiagnosed with Celiac disease almost 10 years ago but have not recovered on a gluten free diet. I am ready to be fully healthy again, as the past 10 years have not been a cake walk for me. I don’t want to take a bunch of homeopathic remedies only to find they aren’t working. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!!

    1. Hi Danielle

      If be interested to hear what you tried after this post? I’m trying to source secnidazole – did you try this?

  5. My 7 year old has tested positive for Blasto cystic hominis is twice over the past 3 years. Pediatrician is not sure what to do. I have taken him to the Pediatrician for the following: he is wetting the bed almost nightly that has a strong bad smell. ( Pediatrician has teased urine repeatedly and finds nothing wrong) He’s had chronic diarrhea for about 3 years. He has flatulence. My question is, is it possible that the onset of this infection was indicated by several vomiting and diahrrea episodes three years ago that left him “spaced out”. During one episode he was so spaced out that I called an ambulance. They took him to the hospital. Hospital couldn’t find any cause after $4,000 worth of test, including a one hour long MRI and tests for a seizure. The neurologist completely ruled out a seizure. They performed every test except for a stool test! After that I did take a stool test and he tested positive for B. Cystitis hominis. Pediatrician didn’t recommend treatment. Chronic diarrhea persisted 2 more years, retesting shows blasto Cystitis hominis is still there. Again, my question is This, “does onset of infection arrive with severe symptoms?” Also is bed wetting a symptom?

    1. Hi, did you get an answer re the onset of infection and whether it’s associated with severe symptoms? I have this urgency to go every morning and it’s explosive, I’m then ok all day. But I have had this for over 3 years since returning from Uganda. My stool test showed D.fragilis. When I was in Uganda I had a bout of what I thought was simply gastro, very off feeling/heady and tired, then bloaty/gassy/full feeling. That night severe diarrhea and then twice more, but then I improved, albeit I was tired and flat for a day or so. So I’m trying to determine if that incident was when I first contracted the parasite and my bodies initial reaction to trying to dispel it, and now my ongoing diarrhea each morning is just what happens now it is co inhabiting my digestive system. Any thoughts……..I’ve tried many different antibiotics and combos, including tracking down sneczidonal last year etc

  6. Is it possible to know what the life cycle for d-fragilis is? I have been treating naturally for over 2 months with a break between as I came back with a clear stool test only to have symptoms return. Have had 2 strains of antibiotics, the second of which made me feel incredibly unwell so I could not finish. What are the normal side affects of the ‘dying off’ period. I really have no idea how to go forward with treatment from here.

    1. I have had both Blasto and d Fragilis over the last 10 years. Drug treatment protocol from Centre for Digestive Diseases in Sydney -get your GP to call them normally works. But on the point of die off – this is normally terrible. It is not the antibiotics making you feel bad initially but rather the die off of that parasite. Takes 3 to 6 days before you can function. Chronic headaches brain fog and fatigue are to be expected. A lot of people think it is a creation to the antibiotics. I strongly advise you persist as I have just today finished the 10 day treatment for d Fragilis and feel 90% better. Still have to repair gut flora over the next few weeks to feel really healthy. Believe I cantcan it from tank water but could also be pot smoking with a bong – being entirely honest as no-one ever wants to get it back again. Tried every natural remedy under the sun – drinking hydrogen peroxide, disastrous earth, and colon cleans/fasts with clay – all useless as they don’t get through to the lower colon where the parasite lives. Hope this info is helpful as I believe I had them for 4-6 years before diagnosed correctly. Get a stool parasite test done. Don’t need fancy three day testing – all pathology labs do them and if you’ve got a parasite they will show up. Roger – Ipswich Qld.

      1. Hi Roger,

        Just wondering how you are feeling now? Has the triple therapy worked?

        Kind Regards

        Kate Whitsundays QLD

      2. Hi Roger,
        I’m interested in how things went for you. I have all the symptoms and tested positive for d Fragilis a couple of years ago but the Drs I saw all told me that it doesn’t cause symptoms and it’s just IBS. I live in Ipswich as well so I’m interested in finding out which GP you saw that agreed to treat you.

        Thanks,
        Chris

      3. I disagree that a standard stool test at any pathology lab will show d. Fragilis. I’ve had so many of these tests and they’ve all come back negative, yet my symptoms have remained the same for 8 years. It has only been now, that I’ve had a PCR (which detects the presence of DNA), that I’ve had a positive test. It’s a notoriously hard parasite to culture and detect, which is why the 3 day sample is required. Even then, you mightn’t get it in an “active” phase. With some parasites, we’re not wanting to know numbers (so don’t need to grow them on a plate), we just want to know if they’re there, so PCR is a must. From my experience, anyway… would have saved me 8 years of hell. I’m sure there are others on here who have suffered enormously, but the impact on my life and family has been huge. My kids were 3 and 5 when I got it, they’re now 11 and 13. My husband has slept in another room for the last 6 years because I’m up all night with diarrhoea, not to mention the smell…. I have to plan my trips down the street so I’m not too far from a toilet. I had to give up teaching because I was always so gassy and running to the toilet with diarrhoea. I’ve now got a sever eating disorder because I can’t eat anything that doesn’t cause gas, bloating and diarrhea (because apparently, I’ve had nothing wrong with me other than IBS, so it must have been a food issue – but I couldn’t work out what food it was, unless I didn’t eat anything). Now I discover it’s d. Fragilis after all – so you can only imagine how incredibly frustrated I am that for all these years I have turned myself inside out, blaming myself for not doing enough to get better, yet the people who tell us that they are at the forefront of diagnosing this, didn’t do a PCR test for me. The CDD took samples while doing a colonoscopy, so they were as “fresh” as you can get, and they cultured them – but didn’t do PCR. You can’t tell me that is good enough.
        So, my advice is, if you still have symptoms and they haven’t resolved even after taking antibiotics – even several courses – do a PCR because that will detect the presence of DNA. The parasite doesn’t have to be alive to be detected. I was able to order this for myself (through nutripath) as I’m now a qualified Nutritionist – so a nutritionist, dietitian, dr, naturopath, chiropractor, integrative dr etc should be able to order it for you. You could always call nutripath and they’d refer you to a practitioner who could refer you.

      4. Roger not all labs use the correct fixatives that’s required to detect the parasites. Blasto is very difficult to detect without it. My advice is to get the three day gold standard test where they look for the parasites DNA.

    2. What natural Tx did you use and don’t stop for as many months as possible is what I was told. My daughter had it and it’s ruining her health she is always sick now and never used to catch things but she does now.!

  7. Can Blastocystilus hominis cause anxiety/depression? The symptoms improve in the evening, and get worse in the summer. Is it what you see in other patients? Thanks!

  8. I would like to arrange to be tested could you please contact me with further details.

    Thank you,
    Sonia Helton
    HIDDEN

  9. My two daughters are currently showing many of these symptoms. One has has two colonoscopies and countless tests. We visited Jamaica. Could they have picked it up there?

  10. Hi I m suffering from blastocystic hominis and 2 time my gastrointrologist recommended me medicine to eradicate it but still I feel the same. I m suffering from leaky gut and diarrhea.kindly suggest me what to do further thanks

    1. We have done comprehensive video on how to treat blastocystis hominis on our youtube channel please refer to the video.

  12. I have just been diagnosed with Blastocystitis. I have had it for over a year now. I was first prescribed flaygl but after reading about it I decided against it. It makes the bug resistant. Has anyone got rid of this bug? Can you tell me what antibiotics you were prescribed?
    Nathalie.

  13. Hi, i have recently been diagnosed with blastocystis through a stool test, i have had symptoms for over 4 years and countless drs all to be told it is IBS and made to feel like it was all in my head. I saw a new dr once and she sent me for tests and the second appointment with her i got the answer. I also had a blood test and it came back positive for helicobacter pylori….i have to go in 3 weeks to have the breath test to confirm if it is still active. I know if it comes back positive that I’ll go on 2 different antibiotics and a double daily dose of nexium. The dr doesn’t want to do anything about the parasite until we work out the bacterium. I get headaches, brain fog, nausea, aswell as all the other unpleasant symptoms, i have done alot of research and it seems like its a luck of the draw to get rid of the parasite ???? this is the most hopeful article so far, thank you. Does anyone have any advice? I had never heard of these before my diagnoses.

  14. I’ve had D. Fragilis for 8 years after picking it up in hospital after getting my appendix out. I was initially treated for it but my symptoms didn’t resolve. Subsequent tests were negative (including through the CDD) and I was made to feel “it was all in my head” (though I’ve no idea how a prolapsing bowel can be all in my head!). I have gone back to university and am 1 year away from finishing a Masters of Dietetics because I thought it must be food. In desperation I booked in to see an ACNEM trained doctor, and in anticipation of that appointment ordered a CDSA + PCR and SIBO breath test (I thought I must have SIBO given the amount of antibiotics I’ve had over the years) last week. I was stunned when the PCR result showed D. Fragilis. I have spent thousands and thousands of dollars trying to work out what is wrong, and a $50 PCR revealed d. Fragilis. I would have thought the CDD would have done this!!. I feel seriously let down as I have suffered immense;y over the last 8 years. I do understand that it is a hard parasite to detect, but given that, I would have thought they would have ordered a PCR? Nonetheless, I am now waiting on a script for paromomycin and am hoping that will help. I do expect that I’ll have residual gut damage, but as I am almost a dietitian, I can manage that.
    If anything has come out of this, it has left me with HUGE empathy and understanding when dealing with patients/clients dealing with IBS, as well as an understanding of how to test, and keep looking for answers and never giving up for people. AND NEVER TELLING PEOPLE ITS IN THEIR HEAD. That is the most offensive, belittling and humiliating thing a person can be told, all because a dr can’t find the answer.

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  20. My five year old son was recently diagnosed with DF. He and I are taking Mebendazole . Is this effective ? Also I called my vet about my two cats and they said it’s not possible stay away from doctor google ? What do think about this ? Am I lucky this showed up in a single stool swab test ? We didn’t show for pinworms either. I think I may have one or both of these parasites that did not show in my swab.

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