These nutritious foods are often made into specialty dishes but can also harbor harmful parasites.
It is often said, “disease comes from the mouth.” Research has shown that parasites can enter the human body through the air, drinking water, food, or direct contact, causing uncomfortable symptoms in the stomach, diarrhea, vomiting, malnutrition, and weight loss.
Many popular dishes, such as snails, frogs, and eels, may pose a risk of parasitic infections. Below are six types of foods that contain the highest levels of parasites.
Foods High in Parasites
Freshwater Prawns
Freshwater prawns (also known as crayfish) are prepared in various ways and are delicious. However, caution is advised as they are heavily infested with parasites. Studies show that methods such as grilling, frying, and steaming do not completely eliminate the Paragonimus lung fluke in prawns, especially in the head region.
Humans can become infected with lung fluke disease by consuming raw or undercooked freshwater crustaceans. Symptoms of lung fluke parasitic infection include chronic cough, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and coughing up blood.
Snails
Snails serve as intermediate hosts for most types of flukes, particularly freshwater snails. Their hard shells protect the parasites.
It is advisable to limit snail consumption. (Illustrative image).
Types of snails, including land snails, contain nearly 10,000 tubular parasites, including flukes and tapeworms. If these parasites enter the human body, they can damage the central nervous system.
After becoming infected, individuals may experience fever and diarrhea, with some cases posing a life-threatening risk. In 2000, a restaurant in Sichuan, Beijing, introduced a salad made with snails. Within two months, 87 customers were admitted to intensive care due to consuming this dish.
Sashimi
Raw dishes always pose a risk of parasitic infections. Many people dip sashimi in lemon juice to “disinfect,” but in reality, the concentration of lemon is not sufficient to kill parasites.
It is best to avoid eating raw dishes, including fish. Raw fish can harbor liver flukes, leading to liver enlargement and swollen lymph nodes.
Raw fish dishes like sashimi pose a risk of parasitic infections. (Illustrative image).
Frogs
While frogs are delicious, improper handling can easily lead to parasitic infections in the stomach. Frogs carry many parasites, the most common being frog larvae, which can cause blindness.
Eels
Eel meat is delicious, easily digestible, and good for children, but eels contain many parasites, especially in their skin. Roundworms parasitizing eels can enter the stomach or intestinal wall, causing food poisoning symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Therefore, you should clean eels thoroughly with salt, lemon, or ash before cooking.
Raw Eggs and Raw Meat
Raw eggs are considered very nutritious, but consuming them poses a risk of bacterial infection. Raw eggs may be contaminated with Salmonella, Anisakis parasites, and other types of parasites. Parasites in eggs can easily cause diarrhea.
Signs of Parasitic Infection
Abdominal Pain
When parasites appear in the body, the digestion and absorption processes of the intestines slow down or become damaged. This leads to lower abdominal pain, accompanied by diarrhea and bloating.
If you notice this condition persisting for a long time, it is advisable to seek medical consultation promptly.
Itching in the Anus
Anal itching can occur not only due to poor hygiene but also because of the presence of parasites in the body.
If there are many parasites in the body, they will continue to move toward the anus, causing irritation and itching in that area.
Unexplained Weight Loss
If you notice unexplained weight loss, you should pay attention, as it is very likely that your body is infected with parasites. Parasites pose a danger to the intestines and can harm physical and mental health, damaging the intestines, reducing the body’s digestion and nutrient absorption capacity, leading to gradual weight loss. Therefore, if you feel fatigued and are losing weight, you should seek medical attention immediately.
