Giardia

What is giardiasis?

Giardiasis (GEE-are-DYE-uh-sis) is a diarrheal illness caused by
a one-celled, microscopic parasite, Giardia intestinalis (also
known as Giardia lamblia). Once an animal or person has been
infected with Giardia intestinalis, the parasite lives in the
intestine and is passed in the stool. Because the parasite is
protected by an outer shell, it can survive outside the body and
in the environment for long periods of time.

During the past 2 decades, Giardiainfection has become
recognized as one of the most common causes of waterborne
disease (found in both drinking and recreational water) in humans
in the United States . Giardia are found worldwide and within every
region of the United States.


How do you get giardiasis and how is it spread?

The Giardia parasite lives in the intestine of infected humans or
animals. Millions of germs can be released in a bowel movement
from an infected human or animal. Giardia is found in soil,
food, water, or surfaces that have been contaminated with
the feces from infected humans or animals. You can become
infected after accidentally swallowing the parasite; you cannot
become infected through contact with blood. Giardia can be
spread by: Accidentally putting something into your mouth or
swallowing something that has come into contact with feces of a
person or animal infected with Giardia. Swallowing recreational
water contaminated with Giardia. Recreational water includes
water in swimming pools, hot tubs, jacuzzis, fountains, lakes,
rivers, springs, ponds, or streams that can be contaminated with
sewage or feces from humans or animals. Eating uncooked food
contaminated with Giardia. Accidentally swallowing Giardia picked
up from surfaces (such as bathroom fixtures, changing tables,
diaper pails, or toys) contaminated with feces from an infected
person.


What are the symptoms of giardiasis?

Giardia infection can cause a variety of intestinal symptoms, which include:

* Diarrhea
* Gas or flatulence
* Greasy stools that tend to float
* Stomach cramps
* Upset stomach or nausea.

These symptoms may lead to weight loss and dehydration. Some
people with giardiasis have no symptoms at all.


How long after infection do symptoms appear?

Symptoms of giardiasis normally begin 1 to 2 weeks (average 7
days) after becoming infected.


How long will symptoms last?

In otherwise healthy persons, symptoms of giardiasis may last 2
to 6 weeks. Occasionally, symptoms last longer.


Who is most likely to get giardiasis?

Anyone can get giardiasis. Persons more likely to become infected include:

* Children who attend day care centers, including diaper-aged children
* Child care workers
* Parents of infected children
* International travelers
* People who swallow water from contaminated sources
* Backpackers, hikers, and campers who drink unfiltered, untreated water
* Swimmers who swallow water while swimming in lakes, rivers, ponds, and streams
* People who drink from shallow wells

Contaminated water includes water that has not been boiled,
filtered, or disinfected with chemicals. Several community-wide
outbreaks of giardiasis have been linked to drinking municipal
water or recreational water contaminated with Giardia.


What should I do if I think I may have giardiasis?

See your health care provider.


How is a Giardia infection diagnosed?

Your health care provider will likely ask you to submit stool
samples to check for the parasite. Because Giardia can be
difficult to diagnose, your provider may ask you to submit
several stool specimens over several days.


What is the treatment for giardiasis?

Several prescription drugs are available to treat Giardia.
Although Giardia can infect all people, young children and
pregnant women may be more susceptible to dehydration resulting
from diarrhea and should, therefore, drink plenty of fluids while
ill.


My child does not have diarrhea, but was recently diagnosed as
having giardiasis. My health care provider says treatment is not
necessary. Is this true?

Treatment is not necessary when the child has no symptoms.
However, there are a few exceptions. If your child does not have
diarrhea, but is having nausea, fatigue (very tired), weight
loss, or a poor appetite, you and your health care provider may
wish to consider treatment. If your child attends a day care
center where an outbreak is continuing to occur despite efforts
to control it, screening and treating children who have no
obvious symptoms may be a good idea. The same is true if several
family members are ill, or if a family member is pregnant and
therefore not able to take the most effective anti- Giardia
medications.


If I have been diagnosed with giardiasis, should I worry about
spreading the infection to others?

* Yes, a Giardia infection can be very contagious. Follow these
guidelines to avoid spreading giardiasis to others:

* Wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet,
changing diapers, and before eating or preparing food.

* Do not swim in recreational water (pools, hot tubs, lakes or
rivers, the ocean, etc.) if you have Giardia and for at least 2
weeks after diarrhea stops.

* You can pass Giardia in your stool and contaminate water for
several weeks after your symptoms have ended. This has resulted
in outbreaks of Giardia among recreational water users.

* Avoid fecal exposure during sexual activity.


How can I prevent a Giardia infection?

* Practice good hygiene.
* Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.

* Wash hands after using the toilet and before handling or eating
food (especially for persons with diarrhea).

* Wash hands after every diaper change, especially if you work
with diaper-aged children, even if you are wearing gloves.

* Protect others by not swimming if you are experiencing diarrhea
(essential for children in diapers).

* Avoid water that might be contaminated. For information on
recreational water-related illnesses, visit CDC's Healthy
Swimming website at http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming.

* Do not swallow recreational water

* Do not drink untreated water from shallow wells, lakes, rivers,
springs, ponds, and streams.

* Do not drink untreated water during community-wide outbreaks of
disease caused by contaminated drinking water.

* Do not use untreated ice or drinking water when traveling in
countries where the water supply might be unsafe.

For information on choosing safe bottled water, see the CDC
fact sheet entitled “Preventing Cryptosporidiosis: A Guide
to Water Filters and Bottled Water,” available by visiting
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/ parasites/cryptosporidiosis/
factsht_crypto_prevent_water.htm.


In the United States, nationally distributed brands of bottled
or canned carbonated soft drinks are safe to drink. Commercially
packaged non-carbonated soft drinks and fruit juices that do not
require refrigeration until after they are opened (those that are
stored unrefrigerated on grocery shelves) also are safe.

If you are unable to avoid using or drinking water that might be
contaminated, then you can make the water safe to drink by doing
one of the following:

* Heat the water to a rolling boil for at least 1 minute.

* Use a filter that has an absolute pore size of 1 micron or
smaller, or one that has been NSF rated for "cyst removal."
For information on choosing a water filter, see the CDC fact
sheet entitled “Preventing Cryptosporidiosis: A Guide to
Water Filters and Bottled Water,” available by visiting
<http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/ parasites/cryptosporidiosis/factsht_crypto_prevent_water.htm>.


If you cannot heat the water to a rolling boil or use a
recommended filter, then try chemically treating the water by
chlorination or iodination. Using chemicals may be less effective
than boiling or filtering because the amount of chemical required
to make the water safe is highly dependent on the temperature,
pH, and cloudiness of the water.

Avoid food that might be contaminated:

* Wash and/or peel all raw vegetables and fruits before eating.

* Use safe, uncontaminated water to wash all food that is to be eaten raw.

* Avoid eating uncooked foods when traveling in countries with
minimal water treatment and sanitation systems.


If my water comes from a well, should I have my well water tested?

It depends. You should consider having your well water tested if
you can answer “yes” to any of the following questions:

* Are members of your family or others who use your well water
becoming ill? If yes, your well may be the source of infection.

* Is your well located at the bottom of a hill or is it
considered shallow? If so, runoff from rain or flood water may be
draining directly into your well causing contamination.

* Is your well in a rural area where animals graze? Well water
can become contaminated with feces if animal waste seepage
contaminates the ground water. This can occur if your well has
cracked casings, is poorly constructed, or is too shallow.

Tests used to specifically identify Giardia are often expensive,
difficult, and usually require hundreds of gallons of water to
be pumped through a filter. If you answered “yes” to the
above questions, consider generally testing your well for fecal
contamination by testing it for the presence of coliforms or E.
coli instead of Giardia . Although tests for fecal coliforms
or E. coli do not specifically tell you whether Giardia is
present, these tests will show whether your well water has been
contaminated by fecal matter.

These tests are only useful if your well is not routinely
disinfected with chlorine, since chlorine kills fecal coliforms
and E. coli . If the tests are positive, it is possible that the
water may also be contaminated with Giardia or other harmful
bacteria and viruses. Contact your county health department,
your county cooperative extension service, or a local laboratory
to find out who offers water testing in your area. If the fecal
coliform test comes back positive, indicating that your well is
fecally contaminated, stop drinking the well water and contact
your local water authority for instructions on how to disinfect
your well.


This fact sheet is for information only and is not meant to be
used for self-diagnosis or as a substitute for consultation with
a health care provider. If you have any questions about the
disease described above or think that you may have a parasitic
infection, consult a health care provider.