Parasites
by Michael Franklin
These have proved to be a cause of people’s symptoms in 31% of the sufferers from IBS who have consulted us. They are especially likely to be a cause where the major symptoms are:
1. Diarrhoea or endless loose bowel movements;
2. Abdominal pain;
3. A lot of gurgling or churning accompanied by the first two symptoms.
If the origin of the symptoms can be traced back to a bad stomach upset experienced on foreign travel, it increases the likelihood that parasites are the problem.
Even if the patient has been treated previously by means of a parasite test on the NHS, it is still very important to do a parasite test with the American laboratory that we use because their techniques are infinitely more sophisticated and will almost certainly find parasites in circumstances where an NHS test did not.
Dientamoeba fragilis and Blastocystis hominis are the commonest parasites that we find in Britain. The former should be relatively easy to eradicate; the latter can be extremely stubborn. If you have done a stool test in the past that showed you had parasites but are wondering if you have fully eradicated them, you may like to get in touch with us because:
1. We can arrange for the best possible new test for you; and
2. If that test proves positive, we can put you on to treatments that actually work.
Metronidazole (also known as Flagyl), for instance, is the only drug prescribed by GPs in Britain for parasites, but it does not work in a great number of cases. It also tends to produce side effects which can be just as bad as, or even worse than, the original symptoms.
For more on parasites, read Michael Franklin’s article below which appeared in Positive Health magazine entitled “The Real Causes of IBS”.
The IBS & Gut Disorder Centre
Harley Street London, Oxford, Sussex, Essex
0845 456 0944
www.ibs-solutions.co.uk
(Michael Franklin, Wilma Kirsten, Julie Pegler, Hilary Thomas)
The Real Causes of IBS
by Michael Franklin
If you would like to read the cover story article Michael Franklin wrote recently for Positive Health magazine, please click on the link below.
