Parasites are living organisms that sustain their selves by living off of the blood or tissue of a host. These parasites vary in size and type and can often cause diseases as a result of infection. Parasites can be found in most animals whether they are aquatic, reptile, bird or mammal; many of these parasites can be contracted by humans. Knowing about the different type of parasites and their characteristics can prevent further complications and future infection.
Lice
One of the most common parasites that people can get is lice. A louse is a tiny, wingless insect that has six legs and big claws. Lice are ordinarily found on the scalp, but can be found on the body, in eyelashes and even in pubic hair. They live their entire lives feeding off of the blood of humans and animals.
Bed Bugs
Bed Bugs are small brownish colored insects that feed off the blood of warm-blooded hosts. They can infest old bed mattresses, stored linens and other places that remain dark and cool during daylight hours. They are nocturnal creatures that come out to feed on human and animal hosts around dawn.
Fleas
Fleas are flat and dark reddish brown and can jump up to a foot high, which is about 100 times the height of their bodies. They are commonly found in dogs and cats, but can also affect humans.
Mites
Mites are microscopic insects that burrow into the hair follicles on the faces and bodies of humans. They are ordinarily found in the elderly, but can be contracted by anybody. These mites can also cause acne as well as other infections both benign and serious.
Ticks
Ticks are epidermal parasites that attach their selves to the skin by injecting their head pinchers into the skin. These parasites often stay attached until their bodies are engorged with blood. They remove their pinchers and drop to the ground at this point. It is important to remove the tick without squeezing the contents of its stomach back into the wound, as this can cause infections. Other serious conditions such as Lyme Disease can occur from a tick bite.
Mosquitos
Mosquitoes are winged insects that feed only on the blood of warm blooded creatures, such as humans and other mammals. They land on your skin and inject their long needle-like beak into your skin and then suck the blood from the wound until they are full. Mosquitoes can transmit diseases such as the West Nile Virus and Yellow Fever.
Reduvid
The Reduvid is a rather nasty bug that is large and winged. These insects feed on the blood of hosts while the host is asleep at night and are often encountered when a home is not cleaned properly.
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