The Top 8 Human Parasites

Lice, mosquitoes, fleas, bed bugs, ticks, mites, triatoma, and babesia are some of the parasites that suck human blood.

Organisms that feed from another, often bigger, organism are called parasites. Humans and animals can be infected by parasites. There are some of the parasites such as Babesia, that make their domicile inside the host's body whereas most of the other parasites reside outside the body of the host, may be in the skin or hair of the host. Host's blood or tissues are the place where the parasites may thrive. It is important to know which parasites feed on human blood to avoid infection.

Lice

Lice are among the most common parasites that can infest people. Such creatures are able to live during the whole of their life, on human's blood. Lice do not have wings and have only six legs unlike many other insects. Generally the infest lives on a human's scalp however they can also be found in other parts of the body like the eyelashes and even in the pubic area.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are flying parasitic insects that live off warm-blooded organisms by drawing their blood. A mosquito is usually thought of as a nuisance. Mosquitoes have a mouth uniquely designed to pierce the skin of their victims. After piercing the skin, they inject their saliva, which acts as an anti-coagulant, and then start drawing blood. Tropical diseases such as the dengue hemorrhagic fever and the West Nile Virus are considered to be transmitted by certain types of mosquitoes.

Fleas

Fleas are flat insects that are commonly reddish brown in color. They can jump to about one foot high which is more than 100 times the height of their bodies. Household pets like dogs and cats are usually their home but they can infest humans.

Bed bugs

Bed bugs are tiny, brown-colored insects known to infest old mattresses, linens and other cool and dark areas. These insects are active at night and generally suck blood from their victims at dawn.

Ticks

Ticks meld to the skin on their victims The pincers are then injected into the skin of the host and they will gorge themselves on the blood of the host. After they have their fill of nourishment, they will detach from the host. Infections and most of the grave ailments such as Lyme disease are transported by the ticks.

Mites

Mites are known to burrow deep into the hair follicles found on the skin of humans. Acne is caused by a similar source Though mites can affect anybody, the elderly are the ones who bear the brunt of them.

Triatoma

Predatory insects from the Reduviidae family include the blood-sucking organisms triatoma. Triatoma are also called kissing bugs because they usually bite the lips of humans as they sleep. They are also known to bite the soft tissues of the eyes. Certain triatoma species have been found out to transmit a fatal disease called the Chagas disease.

Babesia

Babesiosis is a condition caused by a the Babesia parasite found in blood. Symptoms similar to malaria crop up in infected humans. Often times malaria is the diagnosis when in reality the illness is Babesiosis.

Parasite knowledge will help protect you from these creatures.