The largest parasite that can infect you is 30 feet long

Reading time: 2 min – Appeared on Discover Magazine

Today it is estimated that about one in two living species is a parasite. By definition, it is a species that lives in a foreign organism on which it depends. In other words, the parasite takes from its host what it needs to survive. Most of them play an essential role in regulating ecosystems, and some scientists have called for resources to be pooled to ensure proper conservation of parasites.

But it happens that cohabitation between the parasite and the human body takes place in a less pleasant way. Their often foreign names are sometimes surprisingly clear and revealing. This is especially the case with brain-eating amoeba and large liver fluke. Discover magazine describes two other particularly nasty parasites, which often prove to be more dangerous than the classic lice and bedbugs.

Which is more dangerous?

It is generally accepted that Plasmodium falciparum is the deadliest. It is the worst of the five plasmodia responsible for malaria. If it is indeed mosquitoes that transmit malaria, P. For falciparum they are actually only one host among others. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), malaria affects more than 200 million people and kills more than 600,000 people every year. Young children are most exposed to the deadly dangers of malaria.

Which is the biggest?

Diphyllobothrium latum is considered the largest parasite that can live in human hosts. This tapeworm can grow up to 30 feet long and can make your intestines its home. To illustrate what 9 meters represents, imagine that French basketball player Victor Wambayama is duplicated and placed end to end four times. As a tapeworm, D. Latam has no difficulty settling and moving through the human gastrointestinal tract.

Even if none of the above symptoms lends any relief to the idea of ​​being inhabited by this parasite, it is P. Generally less dangerous than falciparum. Mostly, D. Symptoms of latum are unpleasant but remain fairly harmless, limited to nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, and vitamin and mineral deficiencies. However, it can be more dangerous if it leaves your intestinal tract and goes to your liver, eyes, or brain.

To avoid this disaster scenario, the best thing to do is to make sure you never let this parasite live in you. As with other tapeworms, you should especially make sure that the meat and fish you eat are properly cooked and kept cool. Seen from another angle, this could be the ultimate reason to convince you to adopt a vegetarian diet.