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.
What countries have giardiasis?
Giardia is the most common gut parasite in
the United Kingdom
, and infection rates are especially high in Eastern Europe. Prevalence rates of 0.94-4.66% and 2.41-10.99% have been reported in Italy. A 2005 study demonstrated a Giardia infection rate of 19.6 per 100,000 population per year in Canada.
Is Giardia found everywhere?
Giardia parasites live around the world, in most countries and continents. It tends to be a bigger problem in countries with poor sanitation, such as developing countries. But you can get it
almost anywhere
.
Is Giardia common in Africa?
Cryptosporidium and Giardia are
prevalent in both humans and animals in Africa
with both anthroponotic and zoonotic transmission cycles.
Is Giardia common in Mexico?
In Mexico, the prevalence of giardiasis can
range from 3% up to 50% in different
regions [6], but the epidemiological trends of cryptosporidiosis remain unknown at the national level.
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.
How do humans get Giardia?
You can get giardiasis
if you swallow Giardia germs
. Giardia spreads easily and can spread from person to person or through contaminated water, food, surfaces, or objects. The most common way people get sick is by swallowing contaminated drinking water or recreational water (for example, lakes, rivers, or pools).
What does Giardia poop look like in humans?
Watery, sometimes foul-smelling diarrhea
that may alternate with soft, greasy stools. Fatigue. Stomach cramps and bloating. Gas.
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.
Does Giardia stay in your system forever?
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
.
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.
What do I do if my dog has Giardia?
In dogs, Giardia is often treated with
fenbendazole (a dewormer)
, metronidazole (an antibiotic), or a combination of both. And sometimes, a combination of multiple medications including febantel, pyrantel pamoate, and praziquantel can also be effective in treating the parasite in dogs.
What is Giardia and cryptosporidium?
Cryptosporidium and Giardia are
parasites that exist in rivers and lakes
. These parasites can cause intestinal illnesses. Cryptosporidium is a parasitic protozoan having a complicated life cycle. At some stage of its life, it exists alongside the cells that line the intestines of animals and humans.
How do you know if you have a parasite from Mexico?
10 signs that may mean you have a parasite
Here are the most common symptoms:
Unexplained constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating, nausea or
other symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. You traveled internationally and got diarrhea on your trip. You have had food poisoning and your digestion has not been the same since.
What is the most common disease in Mexico?
In 2019,
acute respiratory infections
were estimated to affect almost 24 million people in Mexico, making them the most common illness in the country. Intestinal infections were the second most frequent ailment that year, with over 5 million estimated cases.
What sickness can you get from Mexico?
- RABIES. …
- DENGUE, CHIKUNGUNYA, AND ZIKA. …
- MALARIA. …
- RICKETTSIAL DISEASE. …
- PARASITIC INFECTIONS. …
- RESPIRATORY DISEASES. …
- TUBERCULOSIS (TB) …
- OTHER HEALTH AND SAFETY RISKS.
