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- Giardiasis, or beaver fever, is a parasitic infection of the digestive system. Symptoms include severe abdominal discomfort and diarrhea, but some people have no symptoms. The parasite that causes it is a microscopic, single-celled organism called Giardia lamblia.
www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/167079Giardiasis (beaver fever): Symptoms, diagnosis, treatment ...
Giardiasis is a tummy bug that causes symptoms like diarrhoea, farting and bloating. It usually goes away in about a week if it's treated, but it can sometimes last much longer.
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Causes
- Risk factors
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Complications
- Prevention
- Takeaway
Giardiasis, or beaver fever, is a parasitic infection of the digestive system. Symptoms include severe abdominal discomfort and diarrhea, but some people have no symptoms.
The parasite that causes it is a microscopic, single-celled organism called Giardia lamblia.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), giardiasis is the most common intestinal parasitic disease in the United States.
In 2012, people reported 15,223 cases of the disease in the U.S.
Not everyone with giardiasis has symptoms, but they can still spread the disease.
Symptoms can appear between 1 and 3 weeks after infection.
They may include:
•a slight fever
•watery or soft stools and constipation
•foul-smelling diarrhea and gas
There are two types of Giardia.
The active form is present in the gut of an infect person or animal.
The inactive cyst form can remain dormant in the environment for several months.
Parasites can leave their host’s body when a person or animal has a bowel movement.
Outside, they form a hard, protective shell and become a Giardia cyst. A cyst can survive for several months in the environment.
A gust of wind can pick up the cysts from infected manure on farmland and blow it in any direction.
Transmission can occur in the following ways:
•touching the mouth after touching surfaces where Giardia parasites are present
•through water supplies, for example, by consuming improperly treated water or ice, swimming, or eating food washed in contaminated water or grown in a place where giardia are present
•through poor handwashing after using the bathroom or when handling food
•by touching the anus of a person who has the disease
•when taking care of someone who has the infection
A doctor will take a stool sample and send it to a lab to check for Giardia cysts.
Sometimes, they will ask for several samples, because a person does not expel cysts every time they use the bathroom.
If the results do not show giardia, but the person has symptoms that seem to suggest giardia, the doctor may carry out further tests.
This may include an endoscopy and possibly a biopsy from the small intestine.
Metronidazole (Flagyl) is a drug that is effective for treating giardiasis. A doctor will prescribe the drug and advise about dosage.
Side effects are rare, but they may include:
•convulsions
•confusion
•hallucinations
•rash
Without treatment, giardia can become chronic, but this is rare. It can last for years, with repeated bouts of diarrhea, vitamin deficiencies, and tiredness.
A person who recovers without treatment may continue to have and to shed the parasite, although this does not always happen. It depends on the individuals’ defense immunity.
In children, giardiasis may lead to malnutrition and conditions connected with this, such as problems with growth and cognitive development, according to a review published in 2013.
Other complications include:
•long-term, non-specific gastrointestinal problems
•chronic fatigue
Giardiasis is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Central America, western parts of South America, Russia, Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria.
Statistics suggest that some 200 million people in Africa, Asia, and Latin America have Giardia with symptoms, and many others do not know they have it, because they do not have any symptoms.
For these reasons, it is important for travelers to be aware of the signs of giardiasis and to take certain precautions:
Hand-washing: Wash hands after using the bathroom or changing a diaper, and before eating or handling food.
Drinking water: Beware of water in rivers and lakes. When camping, people should take their own water supply or some means of boiling or purifying it.
Food: Avoid eating raw foods and foods washed in water that could be contaminated.
Giardiasis is a common parasitic disease that affects the intestines. While most common in countries with poor sanitation, it also affects people in the U.S.
A doctor can provide medication to treat the infection.
People should take care to use treated, boiled, or purified water for drinking and washing food, especially when camping or visiting countries where Giardia is common.
Good handwashing practices can reduce the risk.
- Yvette Brazier
Fever occurs in only about 15% of infected people, [12] despite the nickname "beaver fever". [6] Prolonged disease is often characterised by diarrhoea and malabsorption of nutrients in the intestine. [10] This malabsorption causes fatty stools, substantial weight loss, and fatigue. [10]
May 7, 2024 · Giardiasis is an intestinal infection caused by a microscopic parasite called Giardia. This parasite lives all over the world, especially in bodies of water. If you accidentally swallow it, it takes up residence in your small intestine and multiplies, feeding off the nutrients there.
Typically found in lakes, streams, or ponds that have been contaminated by human, muskrat, dog, or beaver feces, giardiasis is also known as "beaver fever." Giardiasis is an intestinal infection caused by a microscopic, single-celled parasite known as Giardia lamblia.
Dec 7, 2023 · Giardiasis, also known as “beaver fever,” is an intestinal infection caused by the microscopic parasite called Giardia lamblia. This waterborne protozoan parasite is found worldwide and is a leading cause of diarrhea in humans.
Mar 4, 2022 · When a person gets sick, the infection is called giardiasis or is sometimes referred to as 'beaver fever'. Giardiasis is one of the more common infectious causes of diarrhea lasting more than 2 weeks.
