Question: My son recently came back from a mission from our church and has had horrible painful stomach pain. Could it be a parasite he picked up?
Dr. Hibberd's answer:
Certainly parasitic diseases are indeed common in some overseas areas that missions visit. This said, it is much more likely that he has something far more common that is causing his pain. It would be a good idea to ask whether others on his mission have become ill and he should go see a private physician for evaluation.
If you believe you have been exposed to an illness while out of the country, remember that your local health department usually has a once or twice weekly travel clinic for those who do not have a doctor of their own and are not in an emergency situation.
If severe pain is present, your son should go to the nearest emergency department for an evaluation to rule out a life-threatening condition.
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