Seeing the coolest and sexiest of wild beasts often requires travel to remote and exotic locales.
Your travels will expose you to new ideas, customs, people, and, of course, cool and sexy wild beasts. Your travels might also be exposing you to something else: exotic pathogens like parasites.
This article is about one such super fun parasite called Giardia.
What Is Giardia?
Via the CDC, Giardiasis is a diarrheal disease caused by the microscopic (protozoan) parasite Giardia. Once a person or animal (for example, cats, dogs, cattle, deer, and beavers) has been infected with Giardia, the parasite lives in the intestines and is passed in feces (poop). Once outside the body, Giardia can sometimes survive for weeks or months. Giardia can be found within every region of the U.S. and around the world.
Note: not only is the CDC’s information about Giardia helpful, it also teaches me that “diarrheal” is a word. I cannot wait to use that word tonight during a dinner conversation!
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What Are The Symptoms Of Giardia?
According to the CDC, the symptoms include:
- Diarrhea
- Gas
- Greasy stools that tend to float
- Stomach or abdominal cramps
- Upset stomach or nausea/vomiting
- Dehydration (loss of fluids)
A “friend” of mine, who has likely been living with Giardia for months, tells me that they are experiencing quite a few of these symptoms: dehydration, fatigue, and creative pooping are the real deal. Brutal ape-like parasite farting is definitely a thing and you don’t want to experience it.
How Does One Get Diagnosed With Giardia?
Going to your doctor and getting a diagnosis is the only way to know for sure if you are infected with Giardia.
Detecting Giardia, and other intestinal parasites, requires testing a sample of your poop.
Let me say that again to really let the indignity set in…
Detecting Giardia requires testing a sample of your poop!
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How does the poop sampling work?
Let me tell you how my “friend” described it to me:
- You take a dump into what “my friend” can describe as a poop measuring cup.
- You ladle out some specimen samples into pre-prepared vials
- You bag-n’-tag your samples in a biohazard bag
- You bring your handiwork to the doctor’s were they send the samples to a lab
- You sit back, relax, and await the results
How Is Giardia Treated?
The only good news about Giardia is that is easy to treat with oral antibiotics. Metronidazole, Tinidazole, and Nitazoxanide are all equally effective. To get these antibiotics you will need a prescription from your doctor. That means that you have to do the poop-sample test. Sorry. I’m so sorry!
Conclusion
Does the thought of getting a parasite from traveling sound terrible?
Of course.
Should it deter you from going to exotic places to see wildlife?
Absolutely not.
The potential for parasites is just part of the adventuring experience. The benefits of seeing the things that you always dreamed of far outweighs the parasitic risks. Well, at least so my “friend” tells me.
Okay, my “friend” is me. I’m riddled with parasites. Now you know.
And, if you do ever end up with a parasite just remember that shit happens!
You can read more about Giardia on the CDC’s website here.