Giardiasis is considered as a stomach condition that triggers symptoms such as flatulence, diarrhea and bloating. Generally, it settles in around a week if treated, but can last longer in some cases.
How does it spread?
There are various ways in which one can acquire giardiasis such as:
- Drinking untreated water
- Drinking water while swimming in rivers, lakes or swimming pools
- Contact with surfaces that were touched by an infected individual
What are the signs?
The main signs of giardiasis generally include the following:
- Foul-smelling diarrhea
- Flatulence
- Abdominal cramps
- Bloating
- Weight loss
In some cases, one can be infected and spread it to others without any symptoms.
Management of giardiasis
The doctor might send a stool sample to be analyzed in a laboratory to confirm a diagnosis.
Antibiotics are prescribed for a few days. In most cases, the symptoms settle after a week, but can last longer in some cases.
The doctor must be consulted if there are any symptoms a week after treatment has been started. More antibiotics are given or refer the individual to a specialist for further treatment.
Self-care measures
An individual is highly infectious once the symptoms start up to 2 days after they settled. It is best to stay away from work or school until the symptoms stopped for 2 days.
During the recovery phase, the following must be considered:
- Increase the intake of fluids to avoid dehydration especially water. If the body is adequately hydrated, the urine should appear light yellow or clear.
- An infant must be bottle fed or continue with breastfeeding as usual
- Regularly wash hands using water and soap
- Any dirty or soiled clothing and bedding must be washed separately using hot water
- All surfaces such as toilet seats, taps, flush handles and door handles must be cleaned daily