Do you also have a stomach ache and a constant bloating? This could be Giardiasis!

Imagine that you have just returned from a trip or eaten out a few days ago and you feel a strange feeling in your stomach. It feels like you have been full, your stomach hurts, and your stomach is distended with a bad smell. Even if you think this is a normal stomach ache, it could be due to a small parasite that we cannot see with our eyes. Today we are talking about a condition called Giardiasis, which is common among many people, but is not well known.

Simply put, what is Giardiasis?

Giardiasis is an infection of our intestines. It is caused by a microscopic, unicellular parasite called Giardia . It is like an uninvited guest taking up residence in our intestines.

This parasite is found everywhere in the world, especially in contaminated water sources. However, if this parasite enters our body, it goes straight to our small intestine . There, it starts to multiply. It gets the nutrition it needs to survive from the food we eat. This process is what causes us to have symptoms like stomach aches, bloating, and diarrhea.

What are the symptoms of giardiasis?

The important thing to remember is that not everyone who gets this infection will develop symptoms. About half of those infected may not show any symptoms at all . But for those who do, they can be quite bothersome.

Let's see what the common symptoms are.

Other rarely seen symptoms

• Scratching the skin
• Hives
• Swelling around the eyes
• Joint swelling

How does this disease spread to us?

This is very simple to understand. There are cases where the eggs of this Giardia parasite are called cysts . The disease is transmitted when these cysts, which are invisible to the naked eye, enter our mouths in some way. We call this fecal-oral transmission .

There are several main ways this can happen:

• Drinking or using dirty water: Drinking water from places like wells, streams, rivers, or lakes that have not been properly cleaned, or rinsing your mouth with that water.
• Swimming in dirty water: You can accidentally swallow some water while swimming. This risk exists even in public swimming pools that are not properly chlorinated.
• Through food: By washing vegetables and fruits with water contaminated with the parasite or by preparing food with dirty hands.
• Person-to-person: When an infected person goes to the bathroom and does not wash their hands properly, they touch surfaces that other people touch (doorknobs, objects), and the parasite on that surface can be transferred to the hands of a healthy person and then transmitted when they eat.
• Kindergartens and daycare centers: In places where there are young babies, this is more likely to spread during diaper changes.

It usually takes a week or two after infection for symptoms to appear. Symptoms can usually last for about two to six weeks .

What complications can this cause?

Although this is not a serious problem for most people, if left untreated or if the immune system is weak, some complications can occur.

• Dehydration: Continuous diarrhea and vomiting can cause the body to lose water and salts. This is especially dangerous for young children and the elderly.
• Nutritional deficiencies: Since the parasite absorbs nutrients from the food we eat in the intestines, it can lead to malnutrition in the long term. This directly affects the growth of young children.
• Lactose intolerance: Infection can damage the intestines, causing some people to temporarily or permanently be unable to digest milk and dairy products.
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): For some people, even after the infection has cleared, long-term changes in bowel function can occur, resulting in conditions similar to IBS.

How does a doctor treat this?

If you have the symptoms mentioned above, the best thing to do is to see your doctor . The doctor will ask you about your symptoms and, if necessary, order tests.

As a treatment, if the symptoms are not too severe, the doctor may advise you to let the body heal itself without medication. However, if the symptoms are bothersome, antiparasitic medications are given to help clear up the infection quickly.

Some of the most commonly prescribed medications are:

• Metronidazole (Flagyl®)
• Tinidazole (Tindamax®)
• Nitazoxanide (Alinia®)

Very important: It is essential to take the medicine prescribed by your doctor for the full prescribed duration, in the exact dose. If you stop taking it halfway, the infection may come back. For pregnant women, your doctor may decide to postpone starting treatment until after you give birth.

What should we do to protect ourselves from giardiasis?

Staying safe from this is not really a big deal. If you follow good hygiene and a few habits, you can greatly reduce your risk.

• Hand washing: This is the most important thing. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before eating, before preparing food, after using the toilet, after changing a child's nappy, and after touching animals.
• Safe water: Always drink boiled or bottled water. Be careful with drinks with ice cubes when you go out.
• Food Safety: Wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly with clean water before eating. If traveling abroad, be careful with things like raw salads.
• Be careful when swimming: When swimming in places like streams, rivers, and lakes, be careful not to get water in your mouth.

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