Now that summer is here, many of us will be traveling to many parts of the world. Travel is very exciting and is often a chance for recharging our bodies, relaxing and enjoying ourselves. However, sometimes we can take home more than just our travel souvenirs. Sometimes it is a souvenir for life, known as a parasite! And so, I thought it would be very helpful to introduce a series for my FatFlush.com readers about this new epidemic that you may not be aware of but that may be affecting you. So welcome to our series on parasites.

Parasitic infection is much more than a squeamish topic-it's an epidemic. Estimates suggest that by the year 2025 more than half of our planet's 8.3 billion inhabitants will be infected with a parasitic disease. No longer solely a Third-World problem, virtually every type of exotic parasitic disease has been found on our shores. Some are even pathogenic. In fact, over 300 different parasites reportedly exist in the United States today. The CDC, however, estimates the number to be in the thousands.

These troublesome invaders range from microscopic organisms to foot-long tapeworms. They're infiltrating our lives on every front, from our homes, workplaces, and daycare centers to restaurants, produce aisles, and water resources. Regardless of their size or type, parasites all accomplish one thing: they destroy our health and well-being. These masked marauders mimic other diseases, so they are often misdiagnosed. Without proper detection and treatment, parasites can linger in the body reigning havoc for up to 30 years.

So I'm not surprised when I receive numerous letters and phone calls from people suffering from seemingly unexplained symptoms like diarrhea, eczema, joint or muscle aches and pains, restlessness, sleep disturbances, anemia, and allergy. To give you a better idea of what I mean, I'd like to share a few stories with you. Now some of them may sound a bit odd or like science fiction, but I assure you they are everyday occurrences. They could even happen to you.

Twenty-three-year-old Tyler spent an insightful 16 months in West Africa with a ministry outreach program. Since his return home, however, Tyler was plagued with multiple bouts of unexplained staph infections and boils. Plus he felt "under the weather" most of the time. Despite innumerable visits to various doctors, no one could find out what was causing Tyler's ill health. It wasn't until he saw a parasitologist that the cause became clear. Tyler was tested positive for an amoeba histolytica infection-a protozoa that commonly goes undetected. And while undergoing treatment, he also passed a three-inch worm!

An animal-loving college student, Danielle shared her apartment with her closest companions-a Lhaso Apso and a Persian cat. The three were virtually inseparable ... and even slept in bed together. Over time, Danielle started having a slew of health problems. Every morning she felt tired and achy, especially her legs and feet. And then there were bouts of bloating, not to mention the diarrhea she would get after eating highly seasoned foods. After a consultation, my suspicions turned to parasitic infection. Danielle was devoted to her animals, but all too often those parasitic intruders use them as vehicles. So there was no big surprise when Danielle's stool test came up positive for parasites. But the bizarre was about to happen. Shortly after starting treatment, Danielle experienced a string-like discharge seeping from every orifice-nasal, rectal, and vaginal. It took another three months of treatment before she was well again, feeling and looking terrific. Of course, part of her healing process required making one rather important lifestyle change ... her animals had to sleep in a place other than the bedroom.

Nolan, a high-strung computer analyst, was alarmed. He was taking far too many trips to the bathroom-and it was getting pretty embarrassing. At our first consultation, Nolan said he thought it could be the result of stress or even a food allergy to milk. Then he told me that ever since his 4-year-old daughter Jessie started daycare, she was having bouts of diarrhea. I suspected the common denominator was a parasite named giardia, a microscopic parasite running rampant in daycare centers across the country. Its cysts get lodged under fingernails, where the parasite is spread from child to child. Nowhere is completely safe ... toys, drinking fountains, books all become potential targets of contamination. Since giardia sometimes mimics colitis and lactose intolerance, it was no wonder Nolan thought he had a milk allergy. Thankfully, after proper treatment, both Nolan and Jessie were back to their old selves and doing just fine.