This stool analysis determines the presence of ova and parasites such as protozoa, flatworms, and roundworms; Cryptosporidium parvum, Entamoeba histolytica, and Giardia lamblia antigens; bacteria, fungi (including yeasts), and occult blood; and Clostridium difficile colitis toxins A and B, H-Pylori.

Parasite infections in particular can be silent but destructive, perpetuating chronic stress on the infected individual 24/7 by raising cortisol levels and causing inflammation. Treatment protocols using natural methods and/or prescription drugs are often necessary to resolve infections.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacterium which can be found in the stomach mucosa of infected individuals. The infection may produce little or no noticeable symptoms, but can cause gastritis, gastric ulcers, stomach cancer, and other serious pathologies. By neutralizing stomach acid through the destruction of parietal cells in the stomach, H. pylori causes digestive problems, constant acute stress on the hormonal stress response, and can lead to progressively threatening disease conditions unless treated.

Gastrointestinal (GI) tract infections are common and can be either clinical (symptomatic) or sub-clinical (without symptoms). In fact, top practitioners report that eight out of ten patients who seek care have one or more GI infections. Some have active GI symptoms, others present with general complaints: fatigue, body pain, headaches, cognitive problems, light headedness, brain fog and/or general malaise. Currently the two most prevalent infections are Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium that primarily inhabits the stomach, esophagus and upper duodenum, and Cryptosporidium parvum, a parasite that primarily inhabits the small intestine and regularly cycles from intracellular to extracellular.

Helicobacter pylori infections are very prevalent and are often the cause of stomach ulcers, acid reflux, burping and belching and general upper GI distress as well as stomach cancer. While acute infections are often highly symptomatic, the body has amazing capability to adapt to infections that become long term, chronic in nature, and patients often have either very mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. Infections with Helicobacter pylori, especially deep seated ones, are often difficult to eradicate as it can develop resistance to commonly used antibiotics. It has also been reported that Helicobacter pylori can produce a toxin with the ability to disable the body’s immune response against it.

All this can be contributing factors to intestinal permeability- leaky gut.