GIARDIASIS what is it and how does it occur

[Guest guest]

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I decided to asend the fact sheet along so we can familiarise outselves

with the illness. LOl Leslie

 

Giardiasis

(GEE-are-DYE-uh-sis)

 

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a.. What is giardiasis?

b.. How do you get giardiasis and how is it spread?

c.. What are the symptoms of giardiasis?

d.. How long after infection do symptoms appear?

e.. How long will symptoms last?

f.. Who is most likely to get giardiasis?

g.. What should I do if I think I may have giardiasis?

h.. How is Giardia infection diagnosed?

i.. What is the treatment for giardiasis?

j.. My child does not have diarrhea, but was recently diagnosed as

having giardiasis. My health care provider says treatment is not necessary. Is

this true?

k.. If I have been diagnosed with giardiasis, should I worry about

spreading the infection to others?

l.. How can I prevent Giardia infection?

m.. Should I have my well water tested?

What is giardiasis?

Giardiasis (GEE-are-DYE-uh-sis) is a diarrheal illness caused by a

one-celled, microscopic parasite, Giardia intestinalis (also known as Giardia

lamblia). Once an animal or person has been infected with Giardia intestinalis,

the parasite lives in the intestine and is passed in the stool. Because the

parasite is protected by an outer shell, it can survive outside the body and in

the environment for long periods of time.

 

During the past 2 decades, Giardiainfection has become recognized as one

of the most common causes of waterborne disease (found in both drinking and

recreational water) in humans in the United States . Giardia are found worldwide

and within every region of the United States.

 

 

 

How do you get giardiasis and how is it spread?

The Giardia parasite lives in the intestine of infected humans or animals.

Millions of germs can be released in a bowel movement from an infected human or

animal. Giardia is found in soil, food, water, or surfaces that have been

contaminated with the feces from infected humans or animals. You can become

infected after accidentally swallowing the parasite; you cannot become infected

through contact with blood. Giardia can be spread by:

 

a.. Accidentally putting something into your mouth or swallowing

something that has come into contact with feces of a person or animal infected

with Giardia.

b.. Swallowing recreational water contaminated with Giardia.

Recreational water includes water in swimming pools, hot tubs, jacuzzis,

fountains, lakes, rivers, springs, ponds, or streams that can be contaminated

with sewage or feces from humans or animals.

c.. Eating uncooked food contaminated with Giardia.

d.. Accidentally swallowing Giardia picked up from surfaces (such as

bathroom fixtures, changing tables, diaper pails, or toys) contaminated with

feces from an infected person.

 

 

What are the symptoms of giardiasis?

Giardia infection can cause a variety of intestinal symptoms, which

include

 

a.. Diarrhea

b.. Gas or flatulence

c.. Greasy stools that tend to float

d.. Stomach cramps

e.. Upset stomach or nausea.

These symptoms may lead to weight loss and dehydration. Some people with

giardiasis have no symptoms at all.

 

 

 

How long after infection do symptoms appear?

Symptoms of giardiasis normally begin 1 to 2 weeks (average 7 days) after

becoming infected.

 

 

 

How long will symptoms last?

In otherwise healthy persons, symptoms of giardiasis may last 2 to 6

weeks. Occasionally, symptoms last longer.

 

 

 

Who is most likely to get giardiasis?

Anyone can get giardiasis. Persons more likely to become infected include

 

a.. Children who attend day care centers, including diaper-aged children

b.. Child care workers

c.. Parents of infected children

d.. International travelers

e.. People who swallow water from contaminated sources

f.. Backpackers, hikers, and campers who drink unfiltered, untreated

water

g.. Swimmers who swallow water while swimming in lakes, rivers, ponds,

and streams

h.. People who drink from shallow wells

Contaminated water includes water that has not been boiled, filtered, or

disinfected with chemicals. Several community-wide outbreaks of giardiasis have

been linked to drinking municipal water or recreational water contaminated with

Giardia .

 

 

 

What should I do if I think I may have giardiasis?

See your health care provider.

 

 

 

How is a Giardia infection diagnosed?

Your health care provider will likely ask you to submit stool samples to

check for the parasite. Because Giardia can be difficult to diagnose, your

provider may ask you to submit several stool specimens over several days.

 

 

 

What is the treatment for giardiasis?

Several prescription drugs are available to treat Giardia . Although

Giardia can infect all people, young children and pregnant women may be more

susceptible to dehydration resulting from diarrhea and should, therefore, drink

plenty of fluids while ill.

 

 

 

My child does not have diarrhea, but was recently diagnosed as having

giardiasis. My health care provider says treatment is not necessary. Is this

true?

Treatment is not necessary when the child has no symptoms. However, there

are a few exceptions. If your child does not have diarrhea, but is having

nausea, fatigue (very tired), weight loss, or a poor appetite, you and your

health care provider may wish to consider treatment. If your child attends a day

care center where an outbreak is continuing to occur despite efforts to control

it, screening and treating children who have no obvious symptoms may be a good

idea. The same is true if several family members are ill, or if a family member

is pregnant and therefore not able to take the most effective anti- Giardia

medications.

 

 

 

If I have been diagnosed with giardiasis, should I worry about spreading

the infection to others?

Yes, a Giardia infection can be very contagious. Follow these guidelines

to avoid spreading giardiasis to others:

 

1.. Wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet, changing

diapers, and before eating or preparing food.

2.. Do not swim in recreational water (pools, hot tubs, lakes or rivers,

the ocean, etc.) if you have Giardia and for at least 2 weeks after diarrhea

stops. You can pass Giardia in your stool and contaminate water for several

weeks after your symptoms have ended. This has resulted in outbreaks of Giardia

among recreational water users.

3.. Avoid fecal exposure during sexual activity.

 

 

How can I prevent a Giardia infection?

Practice good hygiene.

 

1.. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.

1.. Wash hands after using the toilet and before handling or eating

food (especially for persons with diarrhea).

2.. Wash hands after every diaper change, especially if you work with

diaper-aged children, even if you are wearing gloves.

2.. Protect others by not swimming if you are experiencing diarrhea

(essential for children in diapers).

Avoid water that might be contaminated.

 

1.. For information on recreational water-related illnesses, visit CDC's

Healthy Swimming website at http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming.

 

Do not swallow recreational water

2.. Do not drink untreated water from shallow wells, lakes, rivers,

springs, ponds, and streams.

3.. Do not drink untreated water during community-wide outbreaks of

disease caused by contaminated drinking water.

4.. Do not use untreated ice or drinking water when traveling in

countries where the water supply might be unsafe.

For information on choosing safe bottled water, see the CDC

fact sheet entitled " Preventing Cryptosporidiosis: A Guide to Water Filters and

Bottled Water, " available by visiting http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/

parasites/cryptosporidiosis/ factsht_crypto_prevent_water.htm.

 

In the United States , nationally distributed brands of bottled or canned

carbonated soft drinks are safe to drink. Commercially packaged non-carbonated

soft drinks and fruit juices that do not require refrigeration until after they

are opened (those that are stored unrefrigerated on grocery shelves) also are

safe.

 

If you are unable to avoid using or drinking water that might be

contaminated, then you can make the water safe to drink by doing one of the

following:

 

a.. Heat the water to a rolling boil for at least 1 minute.

OR

b.. Use a filter that has an absolute pore size of 1 micron or smaller,

or one that has been NSF rated for " cyst removal. "

c.. For information on choosing a water filter, see the CDC fact sheet

entitled " Preventing Cryptosporidiosis: A Guide to Water Filters and Bottled

Water, " available by visiting http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/

parasites/cryptosporidiosis/ factsht_crypto_prevent_water.htm.

 

If you cannot heat the water to a rolling boil or use a recommended

filter, then try chemically treating the water by chlorination or iodination.

Using chemicals may be less effective than boiling or filtering because the

amount of chemical required to make the water safe is highly dependent on the

temperature, pH, and cloudiness of the water.

Avoid food that might be contaminated.

 

1.. Wash and/or peel all raw vegetables and fruits before eating.

2.. Use safe, uncontaminated water to wash all food that is to be eaten

raw.

3.. Avoid eating uncooked foods when traveling in countries with minimal

water treatment and sanitation systems.

Avoid fecal exposure during sexual activity.

 

 

 

If my water comes from a well, should I have my well water tested?

It depends. You should consider having your well water tested if you can

answer " yes " to any of the following questions:

 

a.. Are members of your family or others who use your well water

becoming ill? If yes, your well may be the source of infection.

a.. Is your well located at the bottom of a hill or is it considered

shallow? If so, runoff from rain or flood water may be draining directly into

your well causing contamination.

a.. Is your well in a rural area where animals graze? Well water can

become contaminated with feces if animal waste seepage contaminates the ground

water. This can occur if your well has cracked casings, is poorly constructed,

or is too shallow.

Tests used to specifically identify Giardia are often expensive,

difficult, and usually require hundreds of gallons of water to be pumped through

a filter. If you answered " yes " to the above questions, consider generally

testing your well for fecal contamination by testing it for the presence of

coliforms or E. coli instead of Giardia . Although tests for fecal coliforms or

E. coli do not specifically tell you whether Giardia is present, these tests

will show whether your well water has been contaminated by fecal matter.

 

These tests are only useful if your well is not routinely disinfected with

chlorine, since chlorine kills fecal coliforms and E. coli . If the tests are

positive, it is possible that the water may also be contaminated with Giardia or

other harmful bacteria and viruses. Contact your county health department, your

county cooperative extension service, or a local laboratory to find out who

offers water testing in your area. If the fecal coliform test comes back

positive, indicating that your well is fecally contaminated, stop drinking the

well water and contact your local water authority for instructions on how to

disinfect your well.

 

 

 

 

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This fact sheet is for information only and is not meant to be used for

self-diagnosis or as a substitute for consultation with a health care provider.

If you have any questions about the disease described above or think that you

may have a parasitic infection, consult a health care provider