Giardia is
a tiny parasite (germ)
that causes the diarrheal disease giardiasis. Giardia is found on surfaces or in soil, food, or water that has been contaminated with feces (poop) from infected people or animals. You can get giardiasis if you swallow Giardia germs.
Is Giardia a bacterial infection?
Giardiasis is
an intestinal infection
in humans and animals, caused by a microscopic protozoan parasite Giardia duodenalis (also known as G. intestinalis or G. lamblia). “Giardia is not a “worm”, bacteria or virus.”
Is Giardia a bacteria or protozoa?
Giardia duodenalis is a
protozoan flagellate
(Diplomonadida). This protozoan was initially named Cercomonas intestinalis by Lambl in 1859.
Is giardiasis an amoeba?
Giardiasis is
a protozoan infection
and mainly affects the upper parts of the small intestine, usually affects children than adults [7, 11,12].
What is the only way to get rid of Giardia?
When signs and symptoms are severe or the infection persists, doctors usually treat giardia infection with medications such as:
Metronidazole (Flagyl)
. Metronidazole is the most commonly used antibiotic for giardia infection. Side effects may include nausea and a metallic taste in the mouth.
What is the best medicine for Giardia?
Medication Options
Several drugs can be used to treat Giardia infection. Effective treatments include
metronidazole, tinidazole, and nitazoxanide
. Other medications include paromomycin, quinacrine, and furazolidone. Some of these drugs may not be readily available in the United States.
Can you see Giardia in stool?
People commonly get giardiasis from swallowing the parasite in untreated water. Giardiasis travels in even trace amounts of infected stool (poop) — amounts so
small you can’t see it
.
Where is Giardia most commonly found?
Giardia parasites are found in
lakes, ponds, rivers and streams worldwide
, as well as in public water supplies, wells, cisterns, swimming pools, water parks and spas. Ground and surface water can become infected with giardia from agricultural runoff, wastewater discharge or animal feces.
What happens if Giardia is left untreated?
If left untreated, Giardia will eventually lead to more acute symptoms, including
bloody diarrhea, weight loss, and dehydration
. If you or your child experience a bout of diarrhea lasting more than a day or two, contact your doctor immediately.
Can you have Giardia for years?
Occasionally, people with giardiasis will have long-term complications such as reactive arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, and recurring diarrhea that
can last for years
. Among children in particular, severe giardiasis may delay physical and mental growth, slow development, and cause malnutrition.
Is Giardia hard to get rid of?
Giardia
is hard to eliminate from the environment
, but there are things you can do to lower the chances of your pet getting sick again, and to help you and your family stay healthy: Always remove poop from your yard or other outdoor areas by using a bag and throwing it away.
What should I eat if I have Giardia?
You may eat soft, plain foods. Good choices are
soda crackers, toast, plain noodles
, or rice, cooked cereal, applesauce, and bananas. Eat slowly and avoid foods that are hard to digest or may irritate your stomach, such as foods with acid (like tomatoes or oranges), spicy or fatty food, meats, and raw vegetables.
What does Giardia look like in poop?
WHAT DOES GIARDIA POOP LOOK LIKE IN DOGS? Generally, dogs with Giardia have
softish bowel movements
. They range from moderately soft, like melted ice cream all the way to severe diarrhea. That’s one of the most common signs.
Is there an over the counter treatment for Giardia?
Over-the-counter medications for diarrhea, such as
loperamide (Imodium)
, may help your symptoms. Wash your hands frequently if you have giardiasis or if you are caring for a person or animal with this infection.
Does Giardia go away on its own dogs?
Occasionally you have some dogs who are able to suppress the Giardia on their own
and they don’t look like they’re sick. Even so, they can be transmitting the Giardia to other dogs in the park, so it is important to test for it by doing a fecal sample and if positive, treat it.
What does giardia do to the intestines?
Giardiasis (jee-are-DYE-uh-sis) is caused by the microscopic Giardia parasite. The parasite attaches itself to the lining of the small intestines in humans, where it
causes diarrhea and interferes with the body’s absorption of fats and carbohydrates from digested foods
.
