In: Biology
Among the flatworms (tapeworms and flukes) we learned this week, which disease would you most likely acquire based on your own lifestyle? What could you do to prevent the infection? If you believe you are not at risk of any of these diseases, please explain why.
Answer: Among the flatworms (tapeworms and flukes), the disease which would I most likely acquire based on my own lifestyle is liver flukes. When the parasitic liver flukes are injected, they travel from the intestine to the bile ducts and then to the liver. They stay in the liver and infects. The infection can cause stone, infection in the biliary system and bile duct cancer. The infection can be prevented by taking hygienic and well-cooked food. Well-cooked food would kill all the flatworms present. Food and water should not be consumed from the area where there is poor sanitation. These measures are important for prevention as there is no vaccination for liver fluke infection.
I do not believe that I am not at risk of these diseases caused by flatworms because many times as per my busy schedule I consume food at the restaurants. Foods that are made outside of the home has a higher chance of infection except for a few places. The risk is more for meat products.