Parasitic infections are fairly uncommon among otherwise healthy people living in most major developed cities. But this hasn’t stopped a wave of social media influencers spruiking at-home “parasitic cleanses” for any number of symptoms such as constipation, fatigue, poor sleep and brain-fog.

“Just comment ‘deworm’ or ‘cleanse’ for more info,” they may say, promising more information about pills with all sorts of “natural” ingredients including wormwood, clove, turmeric, clove, thyme, and black walnut.

But just how common are parasitic infections and what evidence is there that these “cleanses” actually work?

Parasitic infections: common misconceptions

Prof Aaron Jex says he and many of his colleagues who specialise in parasite biology and diagnosis have been contacted by people convinced they have a prolonged, undiagnosed parasitic infection.

They describe symptoms like bowel discomfort, and “a feeling of ‘worms’ crawling beneath the skin or floating in their eyes,” Jex, who leads an infectious disease research laboratory at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, says.

“Often, these individuals discuss the hopelessness they feel when seeking a diagnosis, in many cases spending countless hours and significant out-of-pocket expenses to find someone that can confirm that they have a parasitic infection, to be told that no evidence of infection can be found,” he says.

“Many will state that they feel the people think........

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