Intenstinal Parasites: What Is Giardiasis?

Diarrhea is the first sign, and while severe it will be without mucus or blood. The normal side-effects of severe diarrhea will occur, as well, including abdominal cramping and gas. Depending upon the severity of symptoms, nausea and vomiting may occur additionally, as may a mild fever. These initial symptoms tend to last about one week; if they continue, nutritional deficiency may result from the continuous diarrhea and poor appetite.

Because the parasite hinders proper digestion, the infection can often be diagnosed by observation of the stool expelled during the bouts of diarrhea: typically, it will be pale, shiny, and will have an unusually unpleasant odor. This is a result of the undigested fats and carbohydrates still contained within the stool that have been expelled as a result of incomplete digestion. After some time, the most severe symptoms may pass into a chronic stage in which symptom severity will be decreased, but minor bowel discomfort will persist.

Giardiasis is estimated to have affect at any point a portion of the world population perhaps as high as one fifth, the largest proportion of whom live in developing countries. Because symptoms may vary from none to mild to severe, it is considered possible that an even larger population than estimated may be affected. Young children are at the highest risk for infection, as they seem to show the weakest natural resistance to the disease; adults, even those not previously faced with infection, seem less prone to infection, and when infected, less prone to exhibiting symptoms.

Infection occurs mostly through contact with exposed water supplies, such as those found in developing countries, or those drawn from well sources. In campers, stream water may be the culprit. When possible, carry a private source of water when travelling, camping or hiking. Failing that, boil any water to be consumed in order to kill parasitic or bacterial contaminants.

The parasite is passed along in the stool of infected individuals, and from there makes its way to a free water source, when possible. However, it seems it can also be spread by the hands and other intermediary sources, so thorough hand-washing should be practiced, especially by those known to be infected. A one-week treatment with antiparasitic medication allows for quick recovery and can shorten the period of contagion in infected patients; if you or a child shows signs of giardiasis infection, visit to a health care center is highly recommended for more information and treatment recommendations.