A Parasite Fight in Tropical Zone

by Jessec1007
(Washington, District of Columbia)

Parasites are such a big problem in underdeveloped countries in tropical zone before 1980s. Having spent part of childhood due to my father's military duties, I had up close and personal experience with parasites.

Although I attended American school, I somehow ended up playing with local children most of the time. On weekends, I would even eat with them in their kitchens. I cannot really say it was the cleanest kitchen. Inevitably, I was infected with parasites.

The diagnosis did not take long. I felt uncomfortable on my bottom. My mother took me to a doctor and I was diagnosed with parasites.

To eliminate parasite problems, my mother made me change clothes three times a day. She would wash my clothes separately with all other family members. I was required to wash my hands before entering the house.

Other than medication prescribe by the doctor, my mother made use of common local cooking ingredients - ginger and garlic. She would put these two ingredients in every dish. Because of this, she started learning to cook local foods.

I took a shower 3 times a day. The whole house was cleaned up by mops, cleaner, vacuum, and water. Taking off shoes before entering a house is a common custom in Asia.

We as Americans never did that in our house. To prevent the spread of parasites, we had to take off shoes for a while.

Parasites reproduce quickly. I must have had it for a while and not knowing it. It took us 3 weeks to complete eliminate the parasites in my body.

I kept the habits my mother built up except the shoe part, I never had the same problem ever since.