Rachel, I am currently taking an Operational Preventive Medicine Course with
the Navy, I am a Navy Nurse getting ready for Kosovo. We have some  life
experienced Infectious Disease Docs giving us lectures on such matters as
Gastrointestinal Infections. Giardia is a protozoan that can be endemic in
certain areas of the US, UK and Mexico. It does not cause active or
symptomatic disease in all persons and has a high rate of asymptomatic
carriers. It generally resides in the small intestine and can cause diarrhea,
steatorhea from malabsorption , fatigue and weight loss. Treatment can also
be used with Quinicrine or there is a Pediatric Suspension of furazolidone.
Drug relapses and resistances do occur. I am just wondering if she is
symptomatic. Route of transmission is from hand to mouth with contaminated
fecal material or from fresh water sources exposed to animal or human waste.
Chlorinated water that is not filtered also is a source of Giardia Cysts.
Period of communicability is the entire period of infection, however ,
handwashing and attention to hygiene can prevent transmission. Hope this is
helpful, Lisa Mooney RN, BSN, soon to be IBCLC And MPH in the long term
future.....

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