Giardia Parasite – A Danger Lurking in the Waters
A waterborne organism, Giardia parasite infects people who ingest contaminated water. More than two million people are said to have been affected by it in America alone, and the numbers continue to rise, according to recent studies.
Serious cases can cause giardiasis, one of the most common nonbacterial forms of diarrhea. Aside from diarrhea, the person who suffers from the infection may also experience stomach cramps, vomiting, nausea, flatulence and abdominal pain. Children are at a high risk of getting giardiasis, although chronic cases are more common to adults.
Once ingested, the parasite automatically multiplies within the intestine the first signs of the infection are normally seen within a week. Weight loss and dehydration are just two of the effects of the giardia infection.
While other parasites can be avoided through proper hygiene and keeping the surrounding clean, the giardia parasite can strike almost at will, since it is waterborne. Even seemingly clean and drinkable water may be contaminated, so extra caution is advised. Those with high risks of getting the infection include children who attend daycare centers; swimmers who accidentally swallow waters from lakes, ponds and rivers; campers and backpackers who drink unfiltered water; and people drinking from shallow wells.
Treatments can be as easy as taking prescription medicine. Once the diarrhea becomes severe, preventing the onset of dehydration is a primary concern. This is why patients are advised to drink a lot of water.
There are ways to lower your risk of getting the infection. One is proper hygiene. You must make sure that you wash your hands thoroughly with water and soap after going to the toilet or when changing diapers, before eating or preparing food. To be sure that your drinking water is free from any harmful parasite, you can boil water for about a minute. If you are on the road and there’s no telling whether the local water is contaminated or not, just get bottled water or carbonated drink.
