REPORTINGGiardia
 |
Common
Water-borne
Illness |
What is Giardia (gee-ar-dee-uh)?
Giardia intestinalis is a microscopic parasite that causes a diarrheal illness in infected people. It is now the most common cause of water-borne disease in people in the United States. The parasite lives in the intestine of an infected person or animal and exits in the feces. Giardia is protected by an outer shell that enables it to survive outside the body for months.
How do you get giardiasis?
Giardia is found on surfaces, soil, food or water that has been contaminated with feces from an infected person or animal. You may become infected from:
- accidentally swallowing it in recreational waters such as public pools, lakes, hot tubs, fountains or streams contaminated with feces or sewage from humans or animals.
- eating uncooked food contaminated with Giardia.
- touching surfaces contaminated with giardia, then touching your mouth.
- drinking water or using ice from contaminated sources.
What are the symptoms of Giardia?
Giardia infection causes:
- Diarrhea
- gas or flatulence
- greasy stools that tend to float
- stomach or abdominal cramps
- upset stomach or nausea
- Sometimes no symptoms at all.
Symptoms may lead to weight loss and dehydraton. They typically start one to two weeks after a person is infected and last two to six weeks.
How is giardiasis diagnosed?
A stool sample will reveal the parasite, but it may take several samples. Giardia is difficult to diagnose.
Is Giardiasis treatable?
A health provider can prescribe several different medications to treat giardiasis. Dehydration resulting from diarrhea can be life threatening particularly to infants. Health providers offer fluid replacement options for infants.
How does giardia spread?
Giardia is contagious. To protect yourself or prevent spreading it:
- Wash your hands well with soap and water after using the toilet and changing diapers and before handling food.
- Do not swim in public waters while you have diarrhea and for one week after it stops. You can still contaminate the water after your symptoms after have stopped.
- Shower with soap and water before entering recreational waters. Wash children well after they use the toilet and after diaper changes and before they enter the water.
- 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.
- Don't drink untreated water from shallow wells, lakes, etc.
- Don't swallow recreational water.
- Don't drink untreated water or use ice in countries where the water supply may be unsafe.
How do I make water safe for drinking?
- Heat water to a rolling boil for at least 1 minute OR
- Use a filter that has an absolute pore size of at least 1 micron or one that has been NSF rated for "cyst removal."
Is giardia found in well water?
Wells can be a source of infection. Runoff from rain or flood water may drain into your well if it's at the bottom of a hill. If the well is in a grazing area, animal waste may seep into the well as it seeps into the ground if the well's construction is compromised.
Tests to identify giardia in wells are expensive. If people who use the well water are sick, tests for coliform or E.coli will show if the water is contaminated with fecal matter. If the test results are positive, stop drinking the water and contact your local water authority for instructions on how to disinfect your well.
Click on the following link for giardia over the years in the five northern counties:
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