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Home Remedies For Treating Giardiasis
By
Patricia | August 31, 2009
What natural treatment to use for giardia instead of metonidazole?
Giardia is a species of anaerobic flagellate protozoan parasites. The genus Giardia lambia causes a disease called giardiasis. The Giardia parasite attaches itself to the epithelium of the host cells so as to reproduce by binary fission. Giardiasis affects the lumen of intestine and is restricted to this organ of the body and as such, the disease does not spread through the bloodstream or through the gastro intestinal tract.
Giardia parasite infects human beings and several other hosts including cats, dogs, cows, deer, sheep, and birds. The disease is caused by an infection of the small intestine with the parasite and is restricted to the extent of thirty percent in the developing nations of the world.
The ailment is caused by ingesting infective cysts through the medium of water or human contact and as such, the parasite has no vector for transmission.
Symptoms
- Abrupt onset of diarrhea, abdominal cramps, vomiting, foul flatus and fever that may last for a span of three to four days.
- The patient may pass greasy and malodorous stools.
- Other symptoms are nausea, indigestion, and loss of appetite.
- Some of the common constitutional symptoms are fatigue, anorexia, and malaise.
- The afflicted individuals are susceptible to weight loss.
- People afflicted with giardiasis may suffer from long lasting malabsorption syndrome.
- The patient may also show signs of dehydration and related ailments.
The drug most commonly prescribed by physicians for the treatment of giardiasis is metronidazole. If the drug is ineffective in alleviating the symptoms of giardiasis, you may try some of these home remedies to treat the ailment:
- You must avoid eating uncooked foods like vegetables, salads, certain fruits, under-cooked meat, ice cubes, raw shellfish, and beverages made from impure water.
- You must drink a lot of water as water is lost as a result of dehydration, one of the symptoms of giadiasis. Also, you must remember that giardiasis is a water-borne disease. As such, you should drink clean and purified water.
- You must drink acidic juices, particularly apple and orange juices, as these alleviate the affliction by reducing the spread of this parasite in your digestive tract.
- You are recommended to include yogurt in your diet so as to cleanse your digestive tract.
Hygiene is the key to prevent and avert the symptoms of giardiasis and you must keep your body and your surrounding environment clean.