The ancient Egyptians in particular seemed to suffer more than their share of ills, largely because of the multitude of parasites ​ — from blood flukes to guinea worms and tapeworms — ​ that they picked up from the Nile River and irrigation canals.
Muistsed egiptlased paistsid kannatavat iseäranis arvukate tõbede käes, enamaltjaolt parasiitide rohkuse tõttu – vereimiuslasest kuni niit - või paelussini –, millesse nad nakatusid Niiluse jõe ja niisutuskanalite kaudu.