Giardiasis is a parasitic infection that causes gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, and belching. In severe cases, it can lead to fatigue, abdominal distension, and persistent cramps and headaches. Treatment usually involves antiparasitic medication, and prevention methods include proper sanitation, cooking, and water filtration.
The most common symptoms of giardiasis are nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, along with flatulence, bloating, and belching. More serious symptoms include fatigue, abdominal distension, and persistent cramps and headaches. It’s easy for people to confuse these symptoms with those of a normal stomach virus, especially in the beginning, but in most cases they are much more severe and long-lasting, and often require medical attention to dissipate as well. Giardiasis is typically caused by a parasite, and the infection doesn’t always go away on its own like most stomach bugs do.
Gastrointestinal problems
The symptoms of giardiasis are largely gastrointestinal, meaning they are typically centered in a person’s digestive tract. Infection often affects the intestines’ ability to remove nutrients from food and waste products, which can lead to loose, watery stools or stools with a greasy consistency. Explosive, burning diarrhea is also common, but constipation can also be a problem. Victims often alternate between intense bouts of diarrhea and periods in which they are unable to evacuate. Most often this is due to the parasite disrupting normal bowel and colon function.
Gas buildup is also common. A small amount of gas is common in the digestive tract as a byproduct of the breakdown of nutrients and wastes, but people infected with giardiasis often have more gas than normal. This can lead to painful bloating and foul-smelling flatulence. A victim may also burp or belch repeatedly, which often causes bad breath. Depending on the severity of the infection, these symptoms can last anywhere from two to ten days.
Stomach ache
In severe cases people may also experience intense stomach cramps and soreness, often due to disrupted acid levels in the digestive tract. Vomiting, due to stomach upset or pain, is also common, as are feelings of severe indigestion and heartburn. In some cases the person may feel worse after eating and may also experience nausea, lack of appetite and general malaise.
In extreme cases
These types of infections usually occur along a spectrum with some cases being relatively minor and some being extreme. In the worst cases, people often experience fever and fluid imbalance in the body which can lead to chronic headaches. When the infection is very severe, the intestines can essentially close or stop working; this often prevents the absorption of nutrients from food, which can lead to weight loss, muscle wasting and dehydration.
Treatment options
Giardiasis usually requires medical attention, both in terms of diagnosis and treatment. Sometimes the symptoms go away on their own, but this is normally only the case when the initial infection was minor. It’s hard to know from the start. Most of the time, symptoms that start off relatively mild get progressively worse until a person is treated. Even people who appear to have recovered may still be carrying the parasite, which means they can pass it on to others.
Pharmacological intervention is often the best course of action, particularly in severe cases. However, no medication works for all cases of giardiasis, making it a common problem to relapse. Medical providers often start by prescribing an antiparasitic, which is any one of a number of medications designed to kill parasites. This is often given to the patient as well as anyone who may be in close contact with him or her. Sometimes rehydration tablets, intravenous saline, and other stabilizing drugs are also given.
Antidiarrheal drugs, on the other hand, generally shouldn’t be used because they can prolong the infection by creating a more “stable” intestinal environment where the parasite can grow and reproduce. The same goes for most common cold and flu medications. People who suspect that they have been infected with giardiasis are usually advised to obtain professional advice and diagnosis before self-treatment.
Tips for prevention and safety
The best way to avoid infection is to keep the parasite that causes giardiasis, Giardia lamblia, out of the body, but that’s not always as easy as it sounds. It is found in most parts of the world, in rural, urban and wilderness areas. In most cases it is transmitted through the faeces; touching fecal matter and then touching your mouth or preparing food is one of the fastest ways it spreads. However, it can also be present in drinking water. Proper sanitation, rigorous cooking, and filtering or boiling water are some of the simplest ways to keep people safe, particularly in regions where parasitic infections are more prevalent.
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