Resolved question:
For the past couple months I've been having intermittent diarrhea, gas and discomfort. For the last couple of days my anus has also been itching. I'm wondering if I should be concerned about parasites. If so, I live in a city with a severe shortage of doctors so I'm wondering if there's any way I can go about treating it without seeing the doctor.
I haven't noticed anything obvious in my stool. Usually when I have diarrhea I see pink, thin, translucent, rice sized shapes or long stringy fibres (like grass) but I always thought this was just food.
Submitted:
4 Days
Category:
Family Physician-GP
Hello. Thank you for posting your query at DoctorSpring.com
I understand your concern.
Yes your symptoms point more towards worm infection, more specifically pinworm infection which also causes itching in the anus, more towards the night time. This happens because of the irritation in the skin and the surrounding areas, since the worm normally lodges there. Other signs of this worm infection are excessive flatulence, foul smelling stools, diarrhea, feeling of discomfort in the abdomen, e.t.c
I will suggest the following medicines and once you take thm you will feel a lot better in a couple of days time
1) Tab. Mebendazole 150 mg one tablet at bed time, followed by another dose taken after 3 days.
2) Tab. Rifaximin one tablet twice daily after food, for 7 days.
3) Tab. Lactobacillus one tablet at bed time for 7 days.
Let me know if there is improvement after taking the medicine for the first 2 days.
Hope this is helpful,
Feel free to discuss further,
Regards
Thank you for the help. I was told that the Mebendazole and Rifaximin are only available through a prescription so I may have to visit a doctor here anyways.
Brett
Hello.
Yes. Those are prescription medications and unfortunately there are no OTCs to treat parasitic infestation.
Wishing you a speedy recovery,
Take care.
Thanks. I've been seeing more and more of the translucent rice things I described above, today I saw 25+. Do you mind telling me if they look like anything I should be concerned about? Usually they are firmer and less shrivelled, these ones are an hour old.
Brett
Hello.
They look like pinworms but only a stool analysis will provide a definitive answer. They could be undigested food as well but unlikely.
Its best that you see a doctor even though it is difficult and get your stool tested.
Let me know if I can assist you any further.
Thank you.