What is Giardia?
Giardia is a parasite (a bug that makes people sick) that causes a bowel infection. It is quite common in children in child care centres, especially where children are in diapers.

What are the symptoms?
Giardia affects children differently. Some have no symptoms while others may have:

• Diarrhea or mushy bowel movements (which may have a very bad smell)
• Stomach cramps
• Gas
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss

How is it spread?
Giardia is spread when someone comes into contact with infected stool (poo). Germs then get onto a person’s hands or other objects and the illness spreads into someone’s mouth and causes infection.

How do you prevent Giardia?
You can help prevent Giardia from spreading by washing your hands with soap and water after changing a diaper, helping your child to go to the toilet or going to the toilet yourself.

Always wash your hands before preparing and eating food.

How do you treat it?
The Giardia parasite may be in a child's stool and not cause illness. If your child has no symptoms, treatment is not necessary.

If your child is sick, your doctor will prescribe a drug to treat the infection.  Your child should take all of the drugs prescribed by your doctor. If you stop taking them before the illness is gone, the infection can come back.

What can parents do?  

• Contact your doctor if you think your child has a Giardia infection. The doctor may have to take stool samples on different days to confirm the diagnosis.
• Be sure that everyone in your house washes their hands with soap and water after changing a diaper and using the toilet, and before preparing and eating food.
• If your child isn’t vomiting, continue to offer breast milk, formula or regular foods in small, frequent feedings.
• If your child has been diagnosed with a Giardia and is ill, he should not return to a child care facility until the diarrhea has stopped.

Call your doctor if your child:

• Is vomiting and showing any sign of dehydration, such as
  • Absence of tears when crying.
  • Dry skin, mouth and tongue.
  • No or less urine (pee) (fewer than 4 wet diapers in 24 hours).
• Is breathing rapidly.
• Has bloody or black stools.  

Source: Well Beings: A Guide to Health in Child Care (3rd edition)

Updated: November 2007