Giardiasis

Giardiasis is a worldwide intestinal parasitic infection. Symptoms include chronic diarrhea, bloating, low-grade fever, nausea and headaches. It is caused through the ingestion of contaminated food and water by cysts of the protozoa Giardia lamblia, G. intestinalis and G. duodenalis. It occurs in areas with poor sanitation and areas where surface water is used for drinking. Person-to-person transmission occurs when Giardia cysts from the stool of an infected person are passed from hand-to-mouth and is the cause of outbreaks in daycare centers, dormitories and chronic care centers. Fresh water bodies (lakes, rivers, streams, ponds) which are open to human and animal fecal contamination are the source of  infection for canoers, kayakers, campers and hikers . Prevention includes: meticulous personal hygiene, food safety precautions and purification of drinking water (boiling water or other methods).

Risk of Giardiasis is present in the following countries:



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