401H Stool Panel

Description

Ova & parasites x 3 (Trichrome stain) plus antigens to Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium parvum,and Helicobacter pylori. Occult blood. Visual and automated identification of bacteria, including, but not limited to: Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Enterococcus, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Proteus, and Pseudomonas. Visual and automated identification of yeast, including, but not limited to Candida.

Causes for concern are both an overgrowth of microorganisms that are normally present in the intestines and the presence of microorganisms that are notnormally present in the intestines. Either condition signals that major physiological pathways in the intestinal environment are outside homeostatic limits.

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). Some patients have active GI symptoms while 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.

Other common findings include:

Blastocystis hominis
Dientamoeba fragilis
Candida spp.
Citrobacter spp.
Endolimax spp.
Enterobacter spp.
Escherichia coli
Klebsiella spp.
Proteus spp.
Pseudomonas spp.