Giardiasis

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Topic Overview

What is giardiasis?

Giardiasis (say “jee-ar-DYE-uh-sus”) is an infection of the intestines caused by the parasite Giardia lamblia.

The illness, also called giardia, is most often a problem in undeveloped countries where tap water is not safe.

How can you become infected with giardiasis?

You may become infected with giardiasis if you eat food or drink water that is tainted with human or animal waste. In the United States, you can catch giardia by drinking untreated water from wells, streams, rivers, and lakes. This is true even in mountain lakes and streams where the water may seem very pure.

You can get giardiasis from someone else through:

• Close contact with someone who is infected.
• Working in day care centers for young children. For example, if you change a diaper and do not wash your hands afterward, anything or anyone you touch could get infected. You could even get the illness yourself if you touch your mouth or eat food that you've touched. Children in day care centers are also more likely to get infected.
• Working or living in nursing homes or other care centers where people may have poor bowel control and poor hygiene.
• Some types of sexual contact, such as anal-oral contact.

What are the symptoms?

Giardia can cause diarrhea, belly cramps, gas, and nausea. You may feel sick once and then get better, or your symptoms may come and go for some time. Some children may not grow or gain weight normally. Sometimes giardia does not cause any symptoms.

After a person is exposed to the bug, it usually takes 7 to 10 days for the infection to develop, but it can take from 3 to 25 days or longer. You can pass the infection to others during the entire time you are infected with the bug. You may be infected for months, even if you don't have symptoms.

How is it treated?

Your doctor may prescribe medicine to kill the parasite. Treatment also lowers the chance that you will pass the bug to others. Taking all the medicine is important, so the infection does not come back.

In some situations you may be tested for giardiasis even though you don't have any symptoms. For example, this could happen during an outbreak at a day care center. If you test positive, doctors recommend that you get treatment even if you don't have symptoms. This is because a small number of people who are not treated get a long-term infection.

If you have diarrhea, try eating small amounts of bland food until you feel better. This gives your bowel a rest. But you need to take frequent sips of clear fluids like rehydration drinks to avoid dehydration. This is especially important for children, because they can become dehydrated quickly.

Can giardiasis be prevented?

There are some things you can do to avoid giardia.

• Do not drink untreated or unpurified water. If you are camping or hiking, boil or purify water from lakes and streams before you drink it.
• When you travel in high-risk areas, drink bottled water and avoid raw fruits and vegetables.
• You may be able to avoid getting the infection from someone else if you wash your hands often. This is very important after you change diapers, use the toilet, or help someone else use the toilet, and before you prepare food.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated:	October 19, 2005
Author:	Colleen Cronin
Reviewed By:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine, W. David Colby, MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer