Leishmania Parasite From Sand Flies Could Be Key to Treating Pain Without Addictive Opioids

Opioids are prescribed for acute pain, but there's a huge drawback - they can be addictive. However, there may be an alternative without the same disadvantage.

Addictive Opioid Alternative: Parasite To Treat Pain

Researchers have found in a new study that a parasite's lesions are painless, and this finding may hold the secret to treating pain without the usage of addictive narcotics.

The parasite disease cutaneous leishmaniasis primarily affects tropical and southern European regions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that a person typically contracts the Leishmania parasite through the bite of infected sand flies.

Although this specific form of leishmaniasis is not fatal, it can significantly negatively affect communities. If untreated, some forms of leishmaniasis can be lethal.

Skin lesions, which can develop anywhere on the body, are the primary symptom of the illness. They typically don't hurt, though. Upon closer examination, scientists have now found that this may pave the way for developing novel analgesics.

"No one knows why these lesions are painless-but it has been thought that the parasite somehow manipulates the host physiological system," said Abhay Satoskar, senior author of the study and professor of pathology at The Ohio State University College of Medicine

The results from the study suggest that the parasites are responsible for activating pathways that reduce pain. The researchers were still looking at how they managed to do that.

They discovered that the parasites use the metabolites to help them survive and proliferate. They speculate that any compounds the parasite produces may have therapeutic value in treating other medical conditions.

They don't know whether the virus directly or indirectly affects the cell. However, the metabolites are produced as a result of the environment that the infection produces. The fascinating part is that they are starting to comprehend the biological foundation of why these lesions are painless for the first time.

Since the United States continues to have a serious opioid addiction problem, scientists have been searching for alternate ways to relieve pain for a long time. Some have called the opioid crisis in the United States one of the worst and longest-lasting public health emergencies in the country's history.

More About Opioids

Prescription opioids (such as morphine, oxycodone, and hydrocodone) are only a few of the numerous choices for managing extreme acute pain. While these drugs have the potential to lessen pain in the short term, when used long-term or in high quantities, they have significant hazards that include addiction and overdose mortality.

Before taking opioids, it is critical to know precisely how much and how often to take the opioid pain medications you are prescribed, as well as how to store and dispose of them safely.

CDC suggests the following:

• Never take opioids in higher amounts or more often
• Do not combine opioids with alcohol or other drugs that cause drowsiness, such as (Benzodiazepines, Muscle relaxants, Sleep aids)
• Store opioids in a secure place and out of reach of others than prescribed (including children, family, friends, and visitors)
• Never sell or share opioid prescriptions
• Handle your unused opioids responsibly by finding your community drug take-back program or pharmacy mail-back program or flushing the drugs down the toilet.

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