Random Parasites That Could Ruin Your Next Vacation (20 items)

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  (#15) Giardia Intestinalis

  If you've ever been told "don't drink the water," that's generally because you could get Giardia. This little parasite gets into your digestion when you eat contaminated food or drink contaminated water. Although it won't do too much damage to you, it can be uncomfortable and curse you with diarrhea and vomiting for two weeks or longer. Unfortunately, Giardia can be found in every region of the United States and throughout the world, so maybe going for bottled over tap water is the way to go when you travel. 
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  (#1) Naegleria Fowleri

  The most frightening thing about Naegleria Fowleri is that there's no way to detect it, there's no way to cure it, and it kills you 97% of the time. What happens is this: when you swim, sometimes water gets in your nose, and sometimes a particularly horrible amoeba can come with it. This amoeba travels to your skull, where it eats your brain, and eventually kills you. You cannot get it by drinking water, but swimming in hot springs, rivers, lakes, and even natural pools in tropical environments can put you at risk.
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  (#18) Whipworm

  Aptly named for its whip-like shape, the Whipworm is a small parasite whose larvae and adult forms live in the intestines. You can get these from touching infected soil and then touching your mouth, or from eating vegetables that are not properly washed. Most of the time, you won't see any symptoms of this parasite, but sometimes they can cause bloody diarrhea, which is the exact opposite of fun. These worms are mostly found in tropical environments, and can even be found in the southern United States. 
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  (#13) Tapeworm

  Tapeworms are usually easily treated and not super deadly, but you can still get them while traveling and they're still really gross. A tapeworm is a flat segmented worm that lives in the intestines. If you have one, you'll likely experience an increase in appetite, weight loss, and often times vitamin deficiency. You can get tapeworms anywhere that under-cooked and unsanitary food is being served, assuming you like to eat your steak rare. Luckily they are fairly uncommon in the United States. 
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  (#20) Leeches

  You've probably heard of the bloodsucking leech, which is still used in some medical procedures throughout the world. Why throughout the world? Because leeches live pretty much everywhere. As long as there are shallow bodies of fresh water (or even an ocean), there are leeches. That means that even right here in the United States, you can have a leech latch onto you and begin sucking your blood. Of course, the lucky thing here is that they drop off after they've had their fill, and most bites are not harmful.
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  (#7) Chigoe Flea

  If you've heard of chiggers before, you've probably heard of this parasite. Barely visible to the naked eye, these tiny fleas eat skin, flesh, blood, or whatever part of you strikes their fancy at the time. All you need to do to get them is be full of blood, and be in an area where they are. In the United States, we often see the horrible bumps they leave behind, whereas in other countries, it can be much worse. Unfortunately these little horrors can be found throughout the world, and the ones in Africa destroy flesh like it's their job. They can even cause death.

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