Person-to-person contact. You can get infected with giardia if your hands become dirty with feces — parents changing a child’s diapers are especially at risk. So are
child care workers and children in child care centers
, where outbreaks are increasingly common.
Are some people more susceptible to Giardia?
Anyone can become infected with Giardia. However, those at greatest risk are:
People in childcare settings
.
People who are in close contact with someone who has the disease
.
Who is most susceptible to giardia?
Children between 6 mo and 5 years of age
are the most susceptible[66]. In combination with diarrhea, G. duodenalis
Which group includes Giardia?
| Giardia | Phylum: Metamonada | Order: Diplomonadida | Family: Hexamitidae | Subfamily: Giardiinae |
|---|
Who affects Giardia?
Everyone is at risk for Giardia. In the United States, Giardia most commonly affects those who
come into frequent contact with young children
, such as their family members or workers at day care centers. It also occurs in people who drink improperly treated surface water (lakes, streams, etc.) and foreign travelers.
What does Giardia poop look like?
The stool may range from
soft to watery, often has a greenish tinge to it
, and occasionally contains blood. Infected dogs tend to have excess mucus in the feces. Vomiting may occur in some cases. The signs may persist for several weeks and gradual weight loss may become apparent.
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.
Can you see Giardia in poop?
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
.
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.
Can a human get Giardia from a dog?
The chances of people getting Giardia infection from dogs or cats
are low
. The type of Giardia that infects humans is not usually the same type that infects dogs and cats. If you own other household or exotic pets, contact your veterinarian for more information.
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.
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 is the incubation period for Giardia?
Acute giardiasis develops after an incubation period of
1 to 14 days
(average of 7 days) and usually lasts 1 to 3 weeks. Symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and vomiting. In chronic giardiasis the symptoms are recurrent and malabsorption and debilitation may occur.
Can Giardia lay dormant in the body?
Giardia forms spore-or egg-like cells called cysts, which can survive outside the body for long periods of time. The cysts are
a resting or dormant stage
that helps the organism survive in unfavorable environmental conditions.
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.
Is there a vaccine for Giardia?
Unfortunately,
efficient vaccines against Giardia are not available
. Giardia undergoes antigenic variation; through this mechanism, parasites can avoid the host’s immune defenses, causing chronic infections and/or re-infections.
