Human Parasites

Hookworm
From the big screen: The hookworm, which lives and dies in your small intestine and feeds on your blood. You can become infected by walking barefoot or swallowing contaminated soil.

Tongue Parasite
Rhinosporidiosis
In your mouth: This is a particularly disturbing one called Rhinosporidiosis. Once considered a fungus. Now considered a parasite. The disgusting factor hasn’t changed. Drinking contaminated water is a likely source of infection.

Pubic Lice, Phthirus pubis

Habitat: Crab or pubic lice lay their eggs on coarse body hair, particularly the hair associated with the pubic regions, perianal region, thighs, abdomen, and armpits, but they will also infest a person's beard and eyelashes. These lice are much less mobile than head or body lice, they can remain attached with their mouthparts in the skin for days at a time. Pubic lice are typically found only on humans and are most often transmitted directly from person to person, particularly during sexual contact. When crab lice feed they can inject saliva into the host, causing pruritus and itching. Scratching the area can increase the irritation. The area can become scaly and hardened with oozing lesions. Painless blue spots can appear after crab lice feed. Other evidence of crab lice includes the occurence of rust-colored insect exretions and darker spots in underwear and flakes similar to dandruff in pubic hair.

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Life Cycle: Females lay about 30 to 90 eggs or so during their lifetime. Eggs hatch after about six to eight days. Young lice then pass through three more stages before becoming adults. The period from egg to adult requires about 23 days. Adults will not live beyond 24 hours after being removed from a human host.

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Description: The pubic louse is grey in colour, and smaller (1.25 -2 mm) than the head and body louse. Their body shape is oval and broader than long, with four distinct lobe-like protuberances on each side of their abdomen. The lice have a small head with short antennae and simple eyes. Each of the six legs of the louse terminates in a claw, but claws on the second and third pair of legs are huge compared to the first pair which are slender. Within each claw there is an associated thumb-like projection which enables the louse to grasp body hair.

Pubic Lice
Nether regions: Pubic lice, AKA the crabs. These are small, six-legged creatures that infect the pubic hair area and lay eggs, according to Google Health. They can also be found in armpit hair and eyebrows (probably preferred compared to the alternative). Can be treated with a prescription wash. Resist the urge to use fire.

worst human parasites - tapeworm
Tapeworm
Also in your gut: The good old tapeworm. A parasite of many stories. Including how they’ve been used to help people lose weight. Snopes.com, an urban myth debunking site, lists the tapeworm diet pill story as “undetermined.” Either way, it’s a good idea to cook your meat thoroughly.

Eye Worm African eye worm In your eye: Known as the African eye worm, or loa loa, this is a nematode that requires a male and female in the host for full infection to ensue, according to Stanford University. This parasite is transmitted by Chrysops fly bites. It’s endemic in the rainforests of West and Central Africa, but has also been diagnosed in tourists.