People with giardiasis will usually feel better and no longer have symptoms within 2 to 6 weeks. However, in some cases, symptoms may seem to be gone but will return after several days or weeks.
Treatment for Giardia involves taking an antibiotic. Depending on the antibiotic given, treatment may be needed for only one day or for several days. In most cases, this is enough to eliminate the infection and its symptoms.
Children and adults who have giardia infection without symptoms usually don't need treatment unless they're likely to spread the parasites. Many people who do have problems often get better on their own in a few weeks.
People exposed to Giardia may experience mild or severe diarrhea (loose stool/poop), gas, stomach cramps, nausea (a feeling of upset in the stomach), or dehydration (loss of water in the body causing weakness of dizziness). Some people experience no symptoms at all. Fever is rarely present.
Watery, sometimes foul-smelling diarrhea that may alternate with soft, greasy stools.
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.
Symptoms of giardiasis
tummy pain or cramps. farting (flatulence) smelly burps – they may smell like eggs.
As long as Giardia parasites are present in the stool a person can pass the germs to other people. Giardia can be present in stool for several weeks or months after symptoms have stopped. Childcare: Children infected with Giardia who have symptoms should be excluded until 24 hours after diarrhea has stopped.
It is felt that probiotics, particularly L. casei, modulate Giardia infection by minimizing or preventing the adherence of Giardia trophozoites to the mucosal surface, suggesting that probiotics offer a safe and effective mode to prevent and treat Giardia infection.
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.
Giardia spreads very easily; even getting tiny amounts of poop in your mouth could make you sick. Giardiasis can be spread by: Swallowing unsafe food or water contaminated with Giardia germs. Having close contact with someone who has giardiasis, particularly in childcare settings.
If your symptoms are mild, you generally won't need treatment for giardiasis. Mild infections can go away on their own in a few weeks. If symptoms are severe or aren't going away, medicine can be used. Infected people who work at a daycare or nursing home may also be treated with medicine.
Symptoms of giardiasis generally begin by having 2 to 5 loose stools (poop) per day and progressively increasing fatigue. Other, less common symptoms include fever, itchy skin, hives, and swelling of the eyes and joints.
Prevention and natural treatments for giardia infection include practicing good hygiene to prevent passing it onto others, doing a parasitic cleanse use supplements and herbs, and seeing a doctor for antibiotic treatments when needed.
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. Giardia spreads easily and can spread from person to person or through contaminated water, food, surfaces, or objects.
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.
Returning to Work or School
Since the Giardia parasite is found in the stool, people should stay home from work, school or child care if they cannot control their bowel movements.
There are up to 600,000 cases of giardiasis in Australia each year, and more than 280 million cases worldwide.
The most common symptom of an active giardia infection is watery diarrhea. The diarrhea may be greenish or yellow in color, or it might be brown, but it is always going to be liquid. There may sometimes be blood present in a dog's stool as a result of giardia as well.
Healthcare providers can order laboratory tests to identify Giardia germs in the stool (poop) of someone who is sick. Sometimes it can be difficult for doctors to know for sure if Giardia is making you sick.
What is the treatment for giardiasis? Metronidazole (Flagyl) is the primary drug of choice. However, there are several other prescription medications that are effective. Over–the-counter medications, such as Pepto-Bismol or Kaopectate, should only be used after the evaluation and recommendation of a physician.
The Giardia lifecycle has two distinct phases: a vegetative trophozoite and an infective cyst that is resistant to harsh environmental conditions.
When do giardiasis symptoms start? If you have giardiasis, you may get sick several days after being infected. Digestive symptoms may last anywhere from two to six weeks. Symptoms may show up to three weeks after you were first exposed.