Giardiasis is an infection of small intestine, which result in complications like dehydration, malnutrition (affecting your physical and mental health), Lactose intolerance (digestive system inability to dissolve basic food items like milk and sugar) and skin rashes.
It is caused by cellular organisms called Giardia Lamblia, which can infect human body through number of ways like person to person contact, rotten food and contaminated water.
Giardiasis infection is, in fact, regarded as one of main waterborne diseases in United States, meaning that water is the main carrier of these organisms. They can enter your body through contaminated water either by drinking it, while swimming or using Spas etc.
They make their way into human body through ingestion of cysts, which are egg shaped, very small in size ranging from 8 to 14 um and having a colorless transparent wall.
Other than water, being the most common carrier of their cyst, they can also be found in rotten food. Further you can also be exposed to risk of Giardiasis infection while changing infant babies' diapers.
The infection can be diagnosed through a sample of your stool or feces. Most of the doctors also ask for series of sample for diagnosis and during treatment for assured results. The main symptoms of Giardiasis infection include diarrhea, greasy feces, nausea, abdominal pains, cramps and weight loss.
In a very acute phase of Giardiasis, symptoms like vomiting, watery diarrhea, severe abdominal cramps and fever lasting up to 3 to 4 days are also experienced.
The symptoms of Giardiasis infection mostly appear within 1 to 2 weeks once the human body gets infected with it. Treatment is there and signs of recovery improve within 6 weeks but in some cases the infection can get chronic and symptoms can last up to 1 to 2 years.
As the allopathic medications come with side effects; natural and home based remedies are highly recommended for this kind of infection. Goldenseal is very well known natural herb and medication for Giardiasis. Its effectiveness in case of fungal, bacterial infections, skin disorders and in fighting parasites like giardia limblia stands unprecedented from many decades.
Other than goldenseal, garlic, black walnut, pumpkin seed, wormseed and grapefruit seed extract also have great tendency toward fighting parasites such Giardia Limblia.
These herbs and natural compounds not only help in getting rid of parasitic organisms from your body but also act as very good cleansing agents of digestive system.
Prevention is your best weapon against Giardiasis. Always wash your hands before and after eating any kind of food. Prefer to use antiseptic soaps and wash your hands at least for 15 seconds with warm water specially mothers after changing diapers of their babies. Use disposable paper towels instead of normal towels.
It is best to use bottled mineral water and if you don't have access to clean bottled water, make sure that you get boiled water for drinking. Further, as water being the most preferred means of transferring for Giardiasis, try your level best not to swallow water while swimming or using spas. Cleanliness is only way you can avoid such infections.
