Giardiasis | Giardia infection | beaver fever

Giardiasis is one of the common illnesses which is usually caused by a parasite that leads to diarrhea and stomach cramps. Generally, this Giardia parasite can spread the infection through contaminated water, contaminated food and contaminated surfaces, and also from people having contact with someone who is infected. Typically Antibiotic medications can treat giardiasis infection.

Giardia infection usually shows up with some symptoms like stomach cramps, bloating, nausea and bouts of watery diarrhea. Giardia infection (giardiasis) is one of the causes of waterborne disease. Usually, these types of Giardia parasites live in the area of backcountry streams and lakes and also in public water filled areas like swimming pools, whirlpool spas and wells. Typically, Giardia infection can spread by food and direct person to person contact.

Usually, Giardia infections will clear up within a few weeks after the infection. But after the parasites are gone, you may have intestinal problems. But several types of drugs are very effective against giardia infection but not all respond to medications. The best defence for giardia infection is Prevention.

Symptoms

People with giardiasis infection never face any signs and symptoms but still they are carriers of parasites which can be spread through stool to others. People who get sick, signs and symptoms generally appear within one to three weeks of exposure to infection which includes:

• Watery, sometimes with odour of foul-smell diarrhea which may alternate with soft, greasy stools

• Fatigue

• Stomach cramps and bloating

• Gas

• Nausea

• Weight loss

Usually, giardia infection symptoms may last two to six weeks but in some people with infection they have longer symptoms or recur.

Causes

Giardiasis causing parasites typically live in the intestines of both people and animals. Before the infection is affected, microscopic parasites which are very tiny and hard to see are usually passed in stool, after the entry of microscopic parasites, they become encased with hard shells which are called cysts which helps them to survive outside the intestines for months. Once it enters as host, the cysts will be dissolved and eventually the parasites are released.

When you accidentally swallow the cysts parasite, Infection will occur eventually. Infection can occur by intake of unsafe water or by eating infected food or through direct person to person contact.

How is giardiasis spread?

Giardiasis infection can spread easily through contaminated water and food.  It can also spread through contaminated surfaces with Giardia cysts, or hard shells which contain the parasite. Parasites need a host to survive, Giardia's shell will enable the parasite to live on its own for a longer period.

People will get giardiasis infection from swallowing the parasite in contaminated water.Giardiasis travels in infected stool, these parasites are so small you can’t see it. Even if you have no symptoms, you can spread the infection to someone else.

You can get giardiasis through:

• If you drink from untreated water sources like lakes, streams or swimming pools.

• If you travel to countries which has poor sanitation practices

• If you work closely with young children like in a child care institute.

• After touching a surfaces like doorknob or toy, you can swallow the parasites

• If you Have sex, particularly anal sex, with a giardia infected person.

Giardiasis Risk Factors

Anyone can catch the giardiasis infection, some people are having higher chance of contact with the parasite:

• People like parents and child care workers who change diapers

• Especially children in child care centers

• People who are living in the same house as someone infected with giardiasis

• People who drink water or  juice with ice made from contaminated water

• People who are going as Backpackers, hikers, and campers those who are drink unsafe or untreated water or who don’t have any good hygiene such as proper hand washing on the trail

• And some of them like International travellers

• Especially, people who have anal sex

Giardiasis Diagnosis

If you want to diagnose giardiasis, you will give a stool sample to your doctor. They will send the stool sample to the laboratory for testing. For the accurate and best results, you might be given samples for testing for several days.

If you are diagnosed with giardiasis, you will need to give a stool sample to check again to see if the giardia parasites have cleared.

Giardiasis Treatment

Many people with giardiasis infection get better without treatment. But your healthcare professionals want to treat you with some drugs. Drugs like Metronidazole (Flagyl), nitazoxanide (Alinia), and tinidazole (Tindamax) are used to treat giardiasis.

Giardiasis Complications

Giardiasis can cause various health issues even after the infection is cured. But these infections can be very serious especially in infants and children.

• Dehydration. This happens when your body doesn’t have enough water to work normally. It’s the result of severe diarrhea.

• Failure to thrive. Having Long-term diarrhea will affect the child’s mental and physical growth.

• Lactose intolerance. People who have giardia infection will face the problem in digesting milk sugar. With this infection, it will make it hard to eat milk, cheese, and other dairy foods.

Giardiasis Prevention

There is no vaccine to prevent the giardiasis infection. But there are some steps you can take to prevent the infection:

• You should wash your hands after whenever you use the toilet, and after you change the diapers, and especially before you eat or prepare food.

• if you’re outdoors, you should Filter or boil water

• You must try not to drink water when you swim in a pool, lake, or stream.

• Always drink bottled water when you travel to various places with unsafe water. And you don’t use ice cubes for juice, especially outdoors.

• You can use a condom if you have anal sex.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1.What is the main cause of giardiasis?

Ans: Giardia is a tiny parasite (germ) that causes the diarrheal disease giardiasis.

Q2. Is Giardia easily cured?

Ans: Many people who do have problems often get better on their own in a few weeks.

Q3. What should I eat if I have Giardia?

Ans: You may eat soft, plain foods. Good choices are soda crackers, toast, plain noodles, or rice, cooked cereal, applesauce, and bananas.

Q4. Does Giardia cause excessive gas?

Ans: Giardiasis is a tummy bug that causes symptoms like diarrhoea, farting and bloating.

Q5.What is the best test for Giardia?

Ans: Microscopy with direct fluorescent antibody testing (DFA) is considered the test of choice for diagnosis of giardiasis since it provides increased sensitivity over non-fluorescent microscopy techniques.