Giardiasis
Overview
Giardiasis is a tummy bug that causes symptoms like diarrhoea, farting and bloating. It usually goes away in about a week if it's treated, but it can sometimes last much longer.
Symptoms
The main symptoms of giardiasis are: smelly diarrhoeatummy pain or crampsfarting (flatulence)smelly burps – they may smell like eggsbloatingweight loss You can have giardiasis and spread it to others without having any symptoms.
Treatment
A GP may send off a sample of your poo for tests to check if you have giardiasis. It's treated with antibiotics. Your symptoms should stop in about a week, but they can sometimes last longer. Sometimes the people you live with may also need to be tested and treated. Go back to a GP if you still have symptoms a week after starting treatment. They might give you more antibiotics or refer you to a specialist for treatment.
Prevention
There are things you can do if you have giardiasis to avoid spreading it. wash your hands with soap and water frequently wash your hands with soap and water frequently separate clothing and bedding that may be contaminated from other laundry and wash it on a hot wash separate clothing and bedding that may be contaminated from other laundry and wash it on a hot wash clean toilet seats, flush handles, taps, surfaces and door handles regularly clean toilet seats, flush handles, taps, surfaces and door handles regularly do not prepare food for other people, if possible do not prepare food for other people, if possible do not share towels, wash cloths, flannels, cutlery and utensils do not share towels, wash cloths, flannels, cutlery and utensils do not use a swimming pool until 2 weeks after your symptoms stop do not use a swimming pool until 2 weeks after your symptoms stop You're most infectious from when your symptoms start until 2 days after they have passed. Stay off school or work until your symptoms have stopped for 2 days.