Symptoms usually begin 2-3 weeks after exposure, however, many infected persons never develop symptoms. The illness caused by Giardia may resemble many other illnesses. The appropriate method to confirm a Giardia infection is by laboratory analysis of stool samples. Giardiasis is usually not life threatening to otherwise healthy persons. Medication can normally cure giardiasis in approximately 10 days.
Giardiasis commonly affects many members of the same family.
Hand to mouth reinfection is often a problem with young children due to poor hygiene. Cryptosporidium is a somewhat similar organism that is past by drinking water. Giardiasis can be contracted by the consumption of unfiltered surface water, or groundwater that allows the direct entry of surface runoff, or through other types of pollution. Giardiasis can also be acquired by ingestion of poorly washed food and by direct contact with the feces of animals or humans infected with the parasite. The DES laboratory does not analyze water samples for Giardia.