Case History H Pylori, Hookworm (Necator americanus), Entamoeba histolytica & Cryptosporidium: Four Chronic Digestive Infections Creating Multiple Symptoms MF (female) ordered a Metametrix GI Effects Test in April 2010. Approximately ten years ago she had undertaken surgery to remove her gallbladder having suffered with right quadrant pain and symptoms that were perceived to have been related to gallbladder problems. The surgery did not improve MF s symptoms. She explained in our consultation that many of her symptoms had returned over the previous 6-8 months and that she had previously been diagnosed with H pylori. Approximately 20 years ago she had suffered with a serious bout of gastroenteritis while on holiday in Greece. MF listed the following symptoms... Pain on right hand side in gallbladder area, which comes and goes on a day to day basis Breathing sometimes can t breathe and chest tight Sore throat Urticaria on neck Stomach pain Pain in right shoulder blade from front to back Bowel problems loose stools all the time General feeling of malaise Low energy levels Periods stopped 3 years ago when age 45 (borderline early menopause) Menopausal symptoms anxious & irritable, hot flushes day & night MF s digestive symptoms stomach pain, pain in the gallbladder area, loose stools indicated to me that there was a very high chance that Helicobacter pylori was likely to still be present in her system. The fact that she had experienced gastroenteritis while on holiday in Greece also led me to suspect that a different digestive infection may be present, in addition to H pylori. When people go down with acute digestive episodes (food poisoning, gastroenteritis, stomach flu ), the culprits are usually bacterial infections such as H pylori, E coli or Campylobacter, or else they are parasitic organisms like Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia, Blastocystis and Cryptosporidium. Doctors tend to treat these infections with antibiotics but rarely run tests to determine exactly which organism or infection is causing the problems. The antibiotics can reduce the numbers of these organisms but they do not always lead to complete eradication. Residual pockets of these bugs can remain in the digestive system for years or even decades, causing inflammation and gradually eroding immune function. The result is a set of chronic symptoms that range from IBS to chronic fatigue and skin complaints, much like those experienced by MF in this case. I strongly
suspected that part of the problem was due to the gastroenteritis she experienced all those years ago. I also suspected that there could be some liver stress because it is well known that liver dysfunction can cause pain and discomfort in the right shoulder area, as well as creating symptoms seemingly related to the gallbladder. One digestive infection - Entamoeba histolytica, which causes amoebic dysentary is known to migrate from the digestive tract to the liver, as well as other areas of the body, causing cysts that can compromise liver function. I ve known of several cases where E histolytica has caused symptoms in the right shoulder. MF listed several other symptoms that were of concern, including fatigue and general malaise. It is very common for people who have compromised digestive function to feel tired and generally unwell. There are several reasons why: Fighting any infection requires a lot of energy. Think about the last time you had a cold, or flu: did it make you feel tired? The chances are it did. That s because our body intelligently diverted much of its energy to fighting the infection to keep us safe. Indeed, the symptoms we experience when we are fighting infections are not caused by the bugs themselves. Rather, they are part of an incredibly intelligent response by our bodies. Our response to digestive infections is no different. If the immune system is fighting one or even several chronic digestive infections, the chances are that we will feel tired and possibly depressed. We know that digestive infections such as H pylori, Cryptosporidium and others cause inflammation in the gut. Research has demonstrated that inflammation within our bodies can lead to nearly all the common complaints for which we seek medical attention. These symptoms include anxiety, arthritis, muscle pain, digestive problems, cognitive and memory decline, skin complaints and more. Even in the absence of digestive symptoms, chronic digestive infections can still lead to significant symptoms elsewhere in our bodies. H pylori has been shown in studies to reduce iron and B12 absorption. This can lead to iron deficiency anaemia and pernicious anaemia, which causes fatigue, lethargy, malaise and possibly even neurological symptoms. Although most research papers focus on B12 and iron, many other nutrients may become depleted as a result of chronic digestive infections inhibiting the digestion and absorption of nutrients. Nutritional deficiency has the potential to cause just about any symptom! Digestive infections are very stressful to our bodies, particularly when they are causing pain and inflammation (inflammation does not always cause pain and can be silent or hidden ). Anything that our bodies perceive as stress leads to a predicable physiological response that includes hormonal shifts, increased utilisation of nutrients such as B vitamins, zinc and iodine. The resulting nutritional depletion and hormonal imbalances again have the potential to create a vast array of symptoms, including PMS, menopausal symptoms, depression, anxiety, gingivitis, skin conditions, insomnia, weight gain/weight loss and sexual problems like low libido and impotence. Based on MFs history and symptoms, I knew there were hormonal imbalances and I was sure that the digestive problems she had been experiencing were at the root of the majority of her symptoms.
GI Effects Test Results We received MF s test results o 15 th May, 2010. The results revealed that she actually had FOUR digestive infections: Helicobacter pylori Cryptosporodium Entamoeba sp. Necator americanus (Hookworm) The test results are shown below: The test results confirmed my suspicion. MF had four of the most damaging digestive infections that we see. Having only one of these infections can cause significant health challenges, but having all four was causing a very heavy burden on her system. It is quite rare to find four infections together on the same test but it s certainly not unheard of. MF s results profile certainly explained why she had been feeling unwell for so long. Of course, it s impossible to know exactly how long each bug had been living in her digestive system and also impossible to know to what extent each one was contributing to her symptoms. Was H pylori the main problem? Was Cryptosporidium causing the majority of her symptoms? How important was the Entamoeba infection? Could the hookworm have been causing some of the symptoms as well? We know that H pylori can cause many digestive symptoms and that it can reduce our body s ability to absorb B12 and iron, leading to fatigue and malaise.
We know that Cryptosporidium can lead to diarrhoea, loose stools, bloating and typical IBS symptoms. We know that Entamoeba species (especially E. histolytica) can migrate to the liver and cause abscesses and liver dysfunction. This dysfunction can lead to problems related to the right shoulder. This bug can also cause loose stools, diarrhoea and chronic fatigue. Finally, we know that hookworm (Necator americanus) has the ability to cause digestive symptoms such as pain, cramping, bloating and IBS, as well as anaemia and other symptoms related to nutritional deficiency. If you would like to understand these parasites in more detail, I highly recommend that you read my e-book, What Your Doctor Didn t Tell You About Parasites. I felt that MF s results profile went a long way to explaining her symptoms, from her digestive complaints right the way through to her right shoulder pain. The question was what were we going to do about it? The Course of Action We ran our standard 60min results analysis consultation and I explained to MF the findings of her test as well as the clinical relevance and significance of each finding. It can be a difficult time for patients and clients when they discover that these unwanted invaders are hiding in their digestive systems and I sympathise greatly in these situations. I sensed that MF was slightly uneasy about the findings and did my best to give her love and confidence that she could remove the infections and improve her health significantly. There are three principal courses of action in these cases: 1. Refer to a medical doctor with a covering letter requesting antibiotic treatment 2. Use broad spectrum anti-microbial herbal protocols to work against the bugs 3. Do nothing Each of these choices carries with it advantages and disadvantages. Using antibiotics can be very helpful because the antibiotics have the power to kill off unwanted invaders quickly and effectively. Some people experience rapid improvements in their symptoms from only a short course of antibiotics. However, because antibiotics are toxic, the side effects of using them can be very unpleasant and may make a person feel much worse, so much so that they literally do not recover. We must also remember that antibiotics do not always completely eradicate the infections, largely because bacteria and parasites may develop resistance to the drugs. Herbal or botanical protocols tend to be much gentler than antibiotics but they can be just as effective, if not more so. There is far less chance of experiencing a toxic reaction to the herbs. It is generally accepted that the botanical protocols must be used for a much longer period of time than the antibiotics to achieve the same results. It is vital to use exactly the right products, in the right doses and for the correct duration in order to achieve optimal results and this usually means working with a qualified practitioner who is skilled in designing protocols. Inaction is the final option. Some people simply choose not to act on their symptoms and test results and we respect & support these decisions.
MF s Choice I have purposely included this case history to emphasise that everything we touch does not necessarily turn to gold. It is my intention to work with 100% integrity and feel that it s important to share cases where the desired outcomes were NOT reached. Because she was hosting four different digestive bugs, the protocols required to help work against them were quite complex. H pylori requires its own antibiotic treatment regimen, known as Triple Therapy. Cryptosporidium and Entamoeba histolytica can be treated with the same antibiotics. Hookworm (Necator americanus) requires a third individual treatment. I explained to MF that although the antibiotics were likely to help, they may also cause side effects and I was concerned that I didn t want her symptoms to deteriorate. Three different courses of antibiotics could prove very stressful to her system and lead to certain symptoms being exacerbated. A broad spectrum herbal protocol to address the parasites would likely have been effective against Cryptosporidium and possibly hookworm, but it would not be effective against E. histolytica if that parasite had moved to the liver (which appeared to be the case given MF s right shoulder symptoms). A separate botanical protocol would have been required to address H pylori. The total duration of the protocols would generally need to be 90-days and for some people, the cost of purchasing the necessary supplements can be an issue. I m deeply sympathetic to this and it s the reason why I always discuss the beneficial use of antibiotics under the guidance of a physician in treating these digestive infections. In some cases, botanicals alone simply cannot eradicate the infections, especially where they have migrated away from the digestive system. The botanicals only tend to work against bugs in the digestive system. MF decided to choose option three and following our consultation, I did not hear from her again. She expressed concerns regarding the cost of the botanical programmes. I do not know at time of writing whether she visited her doctor to seek medical treatment. I respected her decision 100% and informed her that we are always here to help should she decide she would like to work through a programme. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Do You Have Parasites? If you would like to work with me or one of my practitioners to overcome your health challenges, please do not hesitate to contact us, or check out any of the resources below: Email: Office@HPExperts.com Phone: 0800 310 21 21 (UK); Phone +44 7856 269 750 (International) Free 15min Phone Consultation Application www.h-pylori-symptoms.com/consultation Lab Testing Information www.h-pylori-symptoms.com/h-pylori-testing H Pylori Diet e-book www.h-pylori-symptoms.com/h-pylori-diet H Pylori Secrets DVD www.h-pylori-symptoms.com/shop What Your Doctor Didn t Tell You About Parasites e-book www.h-pylori- Symptoms.com/shop