Human Disease

In 1986-1988 24 states and Puerto Rico reported 50 outbreaks of Giardia outbreaks do to water contamination , it was do the water people were drinking in those states. This had affected over 25,000 people at this time. Since then the CDC in collaboration with the EPA are keeping a close eye on water related disease activity to help prevent outbreaks. Giardia is a parasite that causes an intestinal infection. This parasite is found in areas with poor sanitation and unsafe water, such as streams, lakes, swimming pools, whirl pool spas and wells and as well as municipal water supplies The symptoms are abdominal cramping, bloating, nausea and watery diarrhea. This parasite can be spread through contact from person to person. The symptoms improve over a two to six week period, the treatment for this at time s the doctor won’t prescribe anything, in some severe cases they do they prescribed a few antibiotics called flagle, tinidazole, alinia and paromomycin these are the antibiotics that help with the treatment of the parasite. No drug can prevent this infection. To be diagnosed with the illness is to have your stool sample tested and your doctor will ask for multiple samples. There are some preventive measures that we can do to help prevent contracting the illness simple ways which are simply washing your hands, purifying wilderness water, keeping your mouth closed when swimming in water, as well as practicing safer sex avoiding anal as well as oral these are all preventive measures that will help prevent the illness.

Kasandra Rios

September 9, 2012