For that reason, the doctor might order a much more sensitive test, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, or ELISA test. Less often, doctors make the diagnosis by looking at the lining of the small intestine with an instrument called an endoscope and taking samples from inside the intestine to be checked in a lab.
This is done in more extreme cases, when a definite cause for the diarrhea hasn't been found. Giardiasis is treated with prescription medicines that kill the parasites. Treatment takes about 5 to 7 days, and the medicine is usually given as a liquid.
Some of these medicines may have side effects, so your doctor will tell you what to watch for. If your child has giardiasis, be sure to give all doses on schedule for as long as your doctor directs. This will help your child recover faster and will kill parasites that might infect others in your family.
Encourage all family members to wash their hands well and often, especially after using the bathroom and before eating. A child who has diarrhea from giardiasis may lose too much fluid in the stool and become dehydrated. Make sure the child drinks plenty of liquids but no caffeinated beverages or juice, as they make the body lose water faster.
Ask the doctor before you give your child any nonprescription drugs for cramps or diarrhea because these medicines may mask symptoms and interfere with treatment. In most cases, treatment with 5 to 7 days of antiparasitic medicine will help kids recover within a week's time.
Medicine also shortens the time that they're contagious. If giardiasis isn't treated, symptoms can last up to 6 weeks or longer. Some food safety and hygiene precautions can help prevent giardiasis. To help protect your family:. Once a person or animal has been infected with Giardia , the parasite lives in the intestines and is passed in stool poop. Once outside the body, Giardia can sometimes survive for weeks or even months. Giardia can be found in every region of the United States and around the world.
You can get giardiasis if you swallow the Giardia parasite germ. Giardia —or poop from people or animals infected with Giardia —can contaminate anything it touches. Giardia spreads very easily; even getting tiny amounts of poop in your mouth could make you sick. Giardia infection giardiasis can cause a variety of intestinal symptoms , which include:.
Symptoms of giardiasis generally begin by having 2 to 5 loose stools poop per day and progressively increasing fatigue. Other, less common symptoms include fever, itchy skin, hives, and swelling of the eyes and joints. Over time, giardiasis can also cause weight loss and keep the body from absorbing nutrients it needs, like fat, lactose, vitamin A, and vitamin B Some people with Giardia infections have no symptoms at all.
Symptoms generally last anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks. In people with weakened immune systems e. Healthcare providers can prescribe the appropriate antiparasitic medications to help reduce the amount of time symptoms last. Contact your healthcare provider if you think you may have giardiasis.
Children in daycare settings should be supervised by an adult when washing their hands. Even after you feel better, Giardia may still be in your feces for several weeks and you can still infect others. If your water supply comes from an untreated surface water source or from ground water at risk of containing pathogens, you will need to disinfect water used for drinking, making ice cubes, washing uncooked fruits and vegetables, making baby formula, brushing teeth or rinsing dentures.
You can remove Giardia by using the following disinfection methods:. It is important to note that Giardia is moderately resistant to chlorine so treating water with chlorine is generally not effective in removing the parasite.
For more information on disinfecting water, see HealthLinkBC File 49b Disinfecting Drinking Water , or contact your local environmental health officer. Skip to main content. Last Updated:. March Download PDF:. What is Giardia? How can I become infected with Giardia? Giardia can also be spread during sexual activity when there is contact with feces. What are the symptoms of giardiasis? How is giardiasis diagnosed and treated? What should I do if I become infected with Giardia?
How can giardiasis be prevented? To help prevent giardiasis, follow this advice: If a Boil Water Notice has been issued for your community water system, take the advice seriously and follow the instructions provided. Do not drink untreated surface water from springs, streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, shallow wells, or ground water at risk of containing pathogens. It is likely contaminated with animal feces. Laboratories confirming diagnosis must notify public health units, who take action to prevent further spread of infection.
All notifications are confidential. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Please enable scripts and reload this page. Skip to content Contact us Emergency information. Last updated: 14 May What is giardiasis?
Giardiasis can affect anyone; however, it is more common in infants, young children and young adults. What are the symptoms? The most common symptoms of giardiasis are diarrhoea, stomach cramps, bloating, nausea, loose and pale greasy stools, fatigue, and if symptoms persist, weight loss.
Some people have no symptoms, however they can still pass the disease to others.
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