Giardiasis

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Giardiasis

• (gee-ar-dye-a-sis)

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What is Giardiasis?

• Giardiasis is a protozoan condition that infects
  principally the upper small intestine and is the
  most commonly diagnosed intestinal parasite in
  U.S. public health laboratories.

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Signs and symptoms

• Diagnosis is traditionally made by the
  identification of cysts, (the resistant stage
  responsible for infection).
• Diarrhea, belching, gas and cramps.
• Although these problems are very unpleasant, the
  illness isn't usually dangerous.

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Incubation and contagious periods

• Incubation period 1-4 weeks
• Contagious period highly variable, but can be
  months

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How is Giardiasis spread?

• Persons are infected most commonly by consumption
  of contaminated water, but infection from
  consumption of contaminated food and fecal-oral
  (hands and fomites) transmission also occurs.
• Person to person transmission most commonly
  occurs in child care centers or in institutions
  for the mentally retarded.

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How to control Giardiasis?

• You should be very careful about the water you
  drink. If you go camping, take bottled water or
  boil water before you use it.
• Wash your hands carefully with soap and water
  several times a day.
• Don't brush your teeth or wash dishes with water
  that hasn't been boiled.
• Peel raw fruits and vegetables before you eat
  them, and don't eat undercooked food.
• If someone in your family/school gets Giardiasis,
  it's likely that this problem will spread to more
  individuals in the home/school.

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What are the roles of the caregiver/teacher and
the family?

• Report any suspicious infections to the school
  health care staff.
• Immediate notification of local and state health
  authorities.
• Ensure that children and staff take all
  prescribed medication and wash hands
  appropriately (food prep, diaper changes, etc.).

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Exclusion?

• Yes, if diarrhea is present.

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Readmit to Group Setting?

• As soon as diarrhea is resolved.

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Giardiasis in LA
Annual incidence rates in Louisiana (1992-2005)
range from 0.13 to 1.45 cases per 100,000
population.
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Giardiasis in LA

• In Louisiana from 1992-2005, cases have occurred
  with almost equal frequency in females and males
  (males 51.2)
• Nationwide, the highest rates of giardiasis occur
  among children newborn to five years of age,
  followed closely by persons aged 31 to 40 years.
  A similar bimodal age distribution is seen in
  Louisiana.
• Nationally, incidence rates appear higher in
  Whites than in African Americans. A similar
  racial distribution is seen in Louisiana.