Giardia / Beaver Fever - Prevention, Symptoms, and Treatments

What is Giardia?

Giardia lamblia is a microscopic parasite, also known as Giardiasis or Beaver fever.  The parasite causes an intestinal infection in people and animals.  Tens of thousands of Americans get sick each year from Giardia.

The giardia parasite is found in the gut of infected beavers, muskrats, or other wild or domestic animals.  When these animals contaminate the water, you can catch giardiasis by consuming the untreated, contaminated water. Even if a fly stomps around in animal feces, and then lands on your food, you can get giardia!

Symptoms

Symptoms of Giardia usually show themselves within ten to 21 days after consumption of the Giardia parasite.

Diarrhea is the most common symptom of giardia.  It can be mild or quite severe.  The diarrhea can become chronic and can last for several weeks or even months, resulting in significant weight loss.

Other symptoms include stomach cramps, bloating, severe flatulence (gas), loose bowel movements that can be mucousy and greasy, fatigue, and weight loss.

One in 25 people can have giardia without any symptoms.

Treatments

If you suspect you may have giardia, you should see your doctor, or visit a walk-in clinic.  They will mostly likely request a stool sample for analysis.

Treatments are inexpensive prescriptions that are readily available and have a limited number of side-effects.  

Prevention

When you are camping or hiking, never drink untreated lake, river, stream, or spring water and avoid consuming any water while you are swimming.  Even if the water looks clean, that is no indication that it isn't free of parasites.  Boiling the water for five minutes will treat the water, and kill any parasites.  Make sure it is a full rolling boil.  Chemical treatments for water are also available, often in the form of chlorine or iodine tablets.  You put these in your water before consuming, and allow it time to sit for 30 minutes.  The disadvantage with chemical tablets is that they often require the water to be above 70 degrees Fahrenheit in order to treat the water properly.  Otherwise, you may have to wait overnight for the water to be adequately treated.  Water filtration systems are also now available.  Look for portable filtration systems to bring into the wilderness with you.

Giardia is a communicable disease, easily spreading from person to person by unwashed hand to mouth contact, or by touching an item with an unwashed hand that will go in someone's mouth.

Always wash your hands after going to the bathroom, handling animals feces, handling diapers, pets, and especially before handling food.

Submitted by Lisa - Saturday, September 24, 2005 19:50:31

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