A 48-year-old member asked:
what are signs of a giardia infection?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Allen Seely answered
General Practice 31 years experience
Diarrhea,gas, pain: Giardia (an intestinal parasite) usually causes profound diarrhea, gas and pain. Giardia is usually contracted from drinking contaminated water in the wilderness but is also found in institutions (e.g. Daycares).
5896 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Heidi Fowler answered
Psychiatry 25 years experience
Symptoms: Giardiasis can present with rotten egg (sulfur) smelling burps, with diarrhea, bloating, abdominal pain, passing gas, nausea, vomiting, fever, constipation; loss of appetite. Giardiasis is an infection of the small bowel by giardia lamblia.
4496 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
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Similar questions
A 22-year-old member asked:
Will giardia infection kill me?
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Pedro Hernandez answered
Geriatrics 40 years experience
Doubt it: Eventhhough giardia is difficult to prove it or demonstrate it has treatment. Pts may have malabsorption and malnutrition or dehydration as a consecuence.
6024 viewsAnswered Mar 6, 2018
A 46-year-old member asked:
How can I treat giardia infection?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Arthur Heller answered
Gastroenterology 43 years experience
Meds: Effective medications are available. 1 dose of tinidazole, 5 days of Nitazoxanide ($$$), 5 days of Metronidazole (inexpensive, GI side effects not uncommon; no alcohol allowed at all); paromomycin 4x/day for 7 days if pregnant.. Stool check: giardia antigen (protein made by the parasite) before and after rx to make sure it is gone. Stool look for parasite less accurate; anal swabs inaccurate.
6022 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old member asked:
Any remedies for giardia infections I can try at home?
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Mary Efremov answered
Internal Medicine 43 years experience
More info needed: How do you know you have giardia?. Any tests. Lots of diseases cause cramping and diarrhea.
5976 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 51-year-old member asked:
What can I do to decrease the odds of developing giardia infections?
1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Charles Cattano answered
Gastroenterology 39 years experience
Risk of Giardia: Giardia is prevalent worldwide, & drinking infected water is the most frequent mode of transmission (e.g. Streams, wells). Person-to-person is 2nd mode in groups with poor fecal-oral hygiene (daycare centers, custodial institutions, sexually active male homosexuals). Food transmission has been documented in commercial settings. Sheep, beavers, cattle, dogs, cats can get it & may pass it to people.
5980 viewsReviewed Jun 23, 2020
Dr. Arthur Heller commented
Gastroenterology 43 years experience
You kno what bears do in the woods; they're not picky about where they do it either. Do not drink water from streams without boiling or halide tabs. Bottled water in places like St. Petersburg (Russia)
Mar 11, 2012
A 47-year-old member asked:
What happens if you get giardia infection?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Joel Gallant answered
Infectious Disease 36 years experience
GI symptoms: You'll feel sick with diarrhea, bloating, gas, and/or nausea until you get treated.
5708 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:
Last updated Mar 15, 2016
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