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Parasitic STDs: The Basics

Giardiasis is caused by the parasite giardia.

People most often get it by drinking contaminated water or eating unwashed fruits and vegetables.

It can also be transmitted sexually through rimming or during ass-to-mouth contact (such as when oral sex happens after unprotected anal sex).

Symptoms begin 1-2 weeks after infection and can last between 2-6 weeks.

Symptoms include abdominal cramps, explosive diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. Watery diarrhea generally cycles with constipation.

Giardiasis can be treated with antibiotics.

Crabs are parasitic insects that spend their lives on human hair.

Pretty much any skin-to-skin contact, typically sexual contact, can spread crabs.

If you have crabs, it is recommended that you contact all sex partners from the previous month for evaluation and treatment.

Symptoms include itching and burning in the pubic area, and the itching may spread to the armpit.

The itching can often be worse at night.

Crabs can be treated with a prescription skin cream.

Shaving of all hair in the affected areas is sometimes necessary to remove all of the dead lice.

Scabies is a contagious parasitic skin infection caused by mites.

Scabies can be transmitted through any kind of skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. It can also be spread by clothing, bedding, or towels.

Symptoms generally include intense itching and a generalized rash.

Scabies mites burrow under the skin, and can cause bites that may look like pimples. These burrows are often located in the crevices of the body, such as between fingers, toes, buttocks, elbows, waist area, and on the genitals.

If diagnosed with scabies, treatment can include washing all clothing in very hot water and drying on high heat. Permethrin sprays can be used for items of clothing that cannot be laundered.

Scabies can be treated with antibiotics, either through an applied cream or with pills taken orally.  The cream is the preferred method.

People with compromised immune systems could be susceptible to crusted (or Norwegian) scabies. With crusted scabies, the scabies can spread over the whole body, excluding the face. These require additional treatment.

http://www.stopaids.org/resources/stds/giardia-crabs-scabies

 

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