{"id":4127,"date":"2019-02-20T07:28:22","date_gmt":"2019-02-20T07:28:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=4127"},"modified":"2021-05-27T15:13:02","modified_gmt":"2021-05-27T15:13:02","slug":"15-symptoms-of-giardia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/15-symptoms-of-giardia\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Symptoms of Giardia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Giardia is an intestinal infection that causes a giardia parasite to make one sick. There are many symptoms to look out for when giardia is present in the body. Some people don\u2019t even have symptoms, but it doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s not in their bodies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The giardia parasite can still be passed to another person through their stool or feces. When symptoms do become apparent, it is between one to three weeks after contracting giardia. To be sure giardia is what someone has, it is important to know the symptoms. The symptoms may mimic something else, but actually be giardia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On average, the symptoms of giardia lasts two to six weeks. If someone is unsure if they have giardia, contact a medical professional who can conduct some lab tests and give the person some antibiotics or suggest a more natural treatment. Some of the symptoms of giardia include diarrhea, weight loss, and abdominal cramps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Diarrhea <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

is one of the symptoms associated with giardia. When diarrhea <\/a>is present in the body, the smell is foul and watery and may be followed by greasy stools. Diarrhea normally happens once or twice a year and lasts a few days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If diarrhea doesn\u2019t go away on its own, a person may have giardia. It will become humiliating going out in public because since a person is having diarrhea, he or she will need to use the restroom often and can become a nuisance at work. A lot of the times diarrhea occurs because contaminated food or water was ingested. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With giardia, drinking contaminated water is one of the main reasons why a person would get the disease. Taking over-the-counter medication may alleviate some of the symptoms associated with diarrhea and may make it go away, but if a person doesn\u2019t take steps to keep giardia from coming back, the over-the-counter medication is no good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Abdominal Pain <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

occurs in giardia <\/a>infection. When it comes to abdominal pain, a person may believe it\u2019s a number of things, especially for women. For women, they may think that they are having menstrual cramps or having contractions if she is pregnant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, a person may eat at a restaurant where the server didn\u2019t wash his or her hands and then served the person. The server puts the person at risk of getting giardia. The same scenario applies to a cook who cooks with no gloves and never washes his or her hands. They are putting not just the people that are eating the food at risk, but their co-workers as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abdominal pain for giardia may range from mild to severe. Over-the-counter medications may work short-term, but the only way to get to the root of the problem is by seeing a doctor get some lab work done and get a prescription for antibiotics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Weight loss <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

is another symptom of giardia. People who lose weight when they have giardia may lose up to 15 pounds. It has been reported that only 66% of people with giardia have weight loss symptoms. Chronic diarrhea can cause weight loss<\/a> as well. In children, if the symptoms last longer than a week, children can lose weight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reason for weight loss is because the person may not be able to eat any food. Every time food is ingested, a person just vomits. The more a person vomits and doesn\u2019t eat, the more weight he or she will lose. It\u2019s not good to vomit constantly because it could make abdominal pains even worse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A medical professional would more than likely suggest foods that a person could eat until giardia clears up. It\u2019s best to stay home from work or keep a child home from school until giardia is gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Nausea <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

occurs when suffering from giardia infection. Nausea <\/a>causes a person to want to vomit whenever drink or food is put into their mouths. When a person is nauseated, food can\u2019t be in his or her present. It will just make them sicker. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Someone infected with the giardia parasite may decide to take an over-the-counter medication to help with the nausea, but it may make them vomit even more because the parasite is so severe in their system. Since giardia causes nausea, weight loss will occur because a person can\u2019t eat anything. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sight of food will make him or her feel sick. If giardia is left untreated, nausea may get worse. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to get in contact with a doctor because a person has to eat. Broth may help with nausea until a person can get in to see a doctor. At least some liquids are getting into the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Gas <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

is a symptom to look out for when giardia is in the body. The type of gas to look out for is the belching kind. The gas is so intense that a person may not want to be around anyone. A person may have flatulence<\/a> as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If gas can\u2019t come out from the mouth, it will come out through the anus. When a person has giardia, they may become lactose-intolerant. They can produce gas as well. Using gas medicine may help for a short period of time, but it may not stop it completely. It may be a good idea to stop drinking caffeinated beverages until giardia goes away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drinking a lot of bottled water is a better option. Making a bowel movement may help with gas, but with giardia, a person is already making constant stools. Also, don\u2019t hold the gas in even when in public. It can cause discomfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Fatigue<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

<\/strong>is common with giardia. That\u2019s why it\u2019s suggested to stay home until it clears up. A person will be even more fatigue<\/a>, especially if he or she is unable to eat or drink. \u00a0They will just want to rest. The less energy a person has, the more fatigue, they\u2019ll be. Giardia can cause long-term fatigue called chronic fatigue syndrome even after the intestinal infection goes away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It has been reported that extreme fatigue can last up to five years. Once giardia is cleared up, a doctor may suggest dietary supplements and foods eat in order to help with fatigue, especially if a person has a chronic case of fatigue. Since a person can be fatigue for years even after the infection is gone, it may affect a person\u2019s daily activities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sooner a person goes to the doctor to seek treatment for giardia, the sooner a person can get better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Dehydration <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

occurs with giardia because a person may be unable to drink any water. Staying hydrated with giardia and any infection is important. It can make the infection worse by not drinking water. By not getting enough water in the body, it could cause the person to become constipated and dizzy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If a person becomes dehydrated <\/a>and dizzy, it\u2019s suggested to seek medical treatment right away. Even if a person can\u2019t keep water down, just drinking a few sips of rehydration drinks can help, such as Pedialyte. If drinking contaminated water was the cause for a person getting giardia, they may be scared to drink any kind of water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people can\u2019t afford bottled water and have to drink tap water. By not drinking water, it could cause diabetes and decrease kidney function. Boiling water for at least five minutes can get rid of some of the chemicals in the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Confusion <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

occurs in severe cases of giardia. In children, giardia can permanently damage a child\u2019s mental state. The symptoms may be so severe that the child may not know where he or she is. The same thing can happen to an adult. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A person may not know that he or she has giardia and has had it for so long that it did damage to their mental state. Seeking medical treatment is the best course of action because it can cause a person from being able to do his or her normal daily activities. A case of giardia can be severe even if a person received symptoms during the normal timeframe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people\u2019s immune system<\/a> reacts differently to different diseases. For example, a person with a weak immune system who drank contaminated water could have symptoms of confusion, whereas a healthy, pregnant woman may just have other symptoms, such as diarrhea. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Headache<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

<\/strong>is a common symptom of giardia, which is actually a secondary symptom. This means that it is not caused directly by the infection itself, but rather by another of the symptoms. More specifically, it is, in this case, a direct result of dehydration, with dehydration being itself a repercussion of giardia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to changes that the giardia makes to the digestive system<\/a>, it can become more difficult to properly absorb fluids from your food and drink, and this, in turn, can lead to a feeling of being \u2018dried out\u2019. In turn, this can cause the brain to physically \u2018shrink\u2019 as it loses moisture, in much the same way as you might see a sponge shrink when you wring it out. As it does this, it physically pulls away from the inside of the skull, which can create a lot of pain and discomfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Malnutrition<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dehydration brings with it a lot of other secondary symptoms, including such things as dry skin, irritability, muscle cramps, dry throat, thirst, and constipation<\/a>. Eventually, dehydration can become life-threatening \u2013 which is why this is something important to monitor with any illness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/strong>is a result of the giardia living within the digestive tract and influencing the way that food gets dissolved and absorbed. This can prevent that food from being absorbed properly into the stomach, thereby preventing nutrients from reaching the parts of the body where they are needed. This complication is especially common in young children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Malnutrition itself can have a number of repercussions and symptoms, depending on the precise nutrients that have been depleted. For instance, you might find that you feel generally tired and lethargic. Alternatively, you might feel irritable, or you might notice that your skin, nails, and hair deteriorate with time. Hunger cravings can also be a sign of nutrient deficiency, as your body attempts to find those nutrients in any way it can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Lactose Intolerance <\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

is the inability to properly digest milk, and interestingly can actually be caused by giardia. Lactose is a type of sugar that is found in milk. Normally, this gets broken down by an enzyme produced in the intestines called lactase. When a person suffers from lactose intolerance<\/a>, this often means that they are not producing enough lactase. That then causes the milk to remain in the intestines undigested, where it can produce methane and other gasses that cause bloating and discomfort. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the case of giardia, it seems that undigested lactose gets used as a food source by the bacteria, thereby causing it to behave differently and creating the gas and the discomfort associated with the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. Lack of Symptoms<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In many cases, giardia will present with no symptoms, making it extremely difficult to identify and diagnose. This can then, in turn, make it much easier to unintentionally spread the disease or to allow it to progress to the point of being more serious: leading to malnutrition <\/a>and other complications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While there are sometimes no symptoms of giardia, what is common is to experience some kind of lethargy and tiredness. You may just feel a little \u2018generally unwell\u2019. The key takeaway here is to listen to your body. If you think something doesn\u2019t seem right, dig a little deeper and go visit your physician.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13.Heartburn <\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

is commonly associated with giardia. As an infection that affects the digestive tract, in particular, it should come as no real surprise to learn that this can impact your digestion and cause complications like heartburn<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heartburn is caused by stomach acid traveling the wrong way through the esophageal sphincter and up the esophagus. This acid can end up getting trapped inside the food pipe, where it will then cause a burning sensation around the chest. This can also sometimes be felt in the back and other areas and is commonly mistaken for a heart attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Risk Factors <\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

help us to identify the likelihood that someone might have giardia. While these are not symptoms themselves, they help us to view the symptoms in the proper context: as either being likely to be linked to giardia or as being more likely to be something else entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Giardia is often transmitted by touching the mouth or face after touching surfaces where the parasites <\/a>are present. Therefore, people who regularly bite their nails or fingers are more likely to pick up the condition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Likewise, giardia can travel through water supplies in contaminated water. This is only likely in areas where the giardia is present, which very often (but not exclusively) means areas with poor sanitation. This might be the case if you have been traveling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sexual intercourse with someone who has the disease can also lead to transmission. If you touch the anal region of someone with giardia, then this can cause it to transmit to the hands and then the face if you subsequently touch your mouth. Having anal sex can also cause the transmission of giardia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, the condition is much more likely in children than adults. This is because they are more likely to come into contact with feces when they are toilet training and spending time in care centers. People who work with children for a living are therefore also more likely to pick up the condition. Consider these factors when looking at symptoms such as acid reflux, dehydration, and tiredness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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15. Halitosis <\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

is one last thing to look out for when trying to identify giardia. This is the technical name for bad breath, which is actually in turn caused by bacteria. When bacteria live in the digestive tract, this can cause waste that travels through the esophagus and the mouth and thereby gives the individual very poor smelling breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another reason that halitosis <\/a>might occur alongside giardia, is due to dehydration. When you are dehydrated, you produce less saliva. As saliva normally acts as a natural disinfectant in the mouth, this can then leave you with foul-smelling breath. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Actually, this is why we often have worse smelling breath in the mornings: we produce less saliva during the night due to the lack of fluid consumption, and this thereby results in us having breath that smells less fresh!
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