Giardiasis is a diarrheal disease caused by the microscopic parasite Giardia. A parasite is an organism that feeds off of another to survive. 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.

In otherwise healthy people, symptoms of giardiasis may last 2 to 6 weeks. Occasionally, symptoms last longer. Medications can help decrease the amount of time symptoms last.

Though giardiasis is commonly thought of as a camping or backpacking-related disease and is sometimes called "Beaver Fever," anyone can get giardiasis. People more likely to become infected include:

• Children in child care settings, especially diaper-aged children are at risk for Giardia exposure.
• Children in child care settings, especially diaper-aged children
• Close contacts (for example, people living in the same household) or people who care for those sick with giardiasis
• People who drink water or use ice made from places where Giardia may live (for example, untreated or improperly treated water from lakes, streams, or wells)
• Backpackers, hikers, and campers who drink unsafe water or who do not practice good hygiene (for example, proper handwashing)
• People who swallow water while swimming and playing in recreational water where Giardia may live, especially in lakes, rivers, springs, ponds, and streams
• International travelers
• People exposed to human feces (poop) through sexual contact

Contact your health care provider.

Your health care provider will ask you to submit stool (poop) samples to see if you are infected. Because testing for giardiasis can be difficult, you may be asked to submit several stool specimens collected over several days.

Many prescription drugs are available to treat giardiasis. Although the Giardia parasite can infect all people, infants and pregnant women may be more likely to experience dehydration from the diarrhea caused by giardiasis. To prevent dehydration, infants and pregnant women should drink a lot of fluids while ill. Dehydration can be life threatening for infants, so it is especially important that parents talk to their health care providers about treatment options for their infants.

To prevent and control infection with the Giardia parasite, it is important to:

• Practice good hygiene
• Avoid water (drinking or recreational) that may be contaminated
• Avoid eating food that may be contaminated
• Prevent contact and contamination with feces (poop) during sex