Question: I believe my family has been infected with some kind of parasite(s.) We have experienced a spectrum of new onset anomalies - rashes, unexplained bruising, sudden onset of red raised temporary rash, persistent dry cough w/no drainage/accompanying symptoms, non-attack gall bladder episodes (just severe 7-8/10 pain without actual full blown attack) changes in stool...and so on!

We also had an appearance of a peculiar living little creature - looked like a XXXXXXX slug pinkish blob with a XXXXXXX arm - after some creative searches for pink blob was able to match the picture to pictures of liver flukes. Then noted peculiar shapes/matter floating up from feces - also consistent with liver flukes - other symptoms don't match up though!!!

We have had SO many risk factors - I have lived in the USVI, we had a pipe break opening the well up to contamination for upwards of a week, live near a lake, had serious insect presence in the house during the summer, temporarily had guinea pigs, went swimming in the Great Lakes, I was recently on keflex, and probably let several leafs of lettuce go by without individual scrubbing!!!

We have all been to the doctors - 3 separate appointments - been diagnosed with folliculitis, scabies (no skin scraping done) and told to follow up with dermatology. Sent pictures of the fluke like things to the pediatrician - kids underwent enverm PO BID x3 days.....again no formal testing!!

My concern is that we have a parasite infection, or given the symptoms maybe multiple - how to I go about getting definitive diagnostics? It appears our PCPs are comfortable with broad spectrum treatments....given the nature of parasitic, particularly helminths infections, I'm not interested in my children (3 and 7) having any of those slip through the cracks!!!

Thank you. Here is what I've seen...these are pictures of what had been found in the toilet, the dehydrated versions of the fluke thingies, and poor quality pictures of the things I keep finding on me and in my house....excuse the quality, my neighbor happened to have an old microscope....not very compatible with a camera!

The rash/welts will just appear out of nowhere...and those sea horse loking things are the only things coming from my nose! I dont have any normal nasal secretions anymore.