They can infect people through contaminated and untreated drinking water, or by coming into contact with the feces of an infected person or animal. Giardia and cryptosporidium can cause gastrointestinal distress.
The greater the number of cysts a person ingests, the higher the probability that the person will become ill. The symptoms generally include mild to severe diarrhea, abdominal cramps, weight loss, bloating and vomiting. The chances of getting sick from a treated water supply are extremely rare, but if you drink straight from lakes or streams without using some kind of filtration or disinfection, you run a greater risk. The incubation period, or time from exposure to onset of symptoms, for giardia is anywhere from three to 25 days.
Most residences at Lake Tahoe are served by water supply systems that treat the water. However, some older residences still bring water directly from the lake into their homes through their own water intake.
Owners of such properties should consider alternative water supplies or invest in a home water treatment system. Giardia, the more common of the two parasites, can be treated with antibiotics. Severe cases of giardia and cryptosporidium can be fatal for young children, elderly citizens and for people with compromised immune systems.
Water bodies are most often contaminated with these parasites from the fecal matter of infected humans, dogs, cats, cattle, horses, deer, elk, bears, muskrats, rats, mice and some birds.
Because dogs can carry it it is important that dog owners clean up pet waste and dispose of it in the trash whether they are at home, on the sidewalk, in the park, or at the beach. If you are using a portable water filter, try to use one that has a filter pore size small enough to remove parasites.
Most portable water filters do not remove bacteria or viruses. In addition to using the appropriate drinking water treatment methods listed above, take these steps to protect yourself and others from waterborne illness:. To receive updates highlighting our recent work to prevent infectious disease, enter your email address:.
Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Drinking Water. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Minus Related Pages. Important Water that has been disinfected with iodine is NOT recommended for pregnant women, people with thyroid problems, those with known hypersensitivity to iodine, or for continuous use for more than a few weeks at a time.
Keep germs out of water and off your hand In addition to using the appropriate drinking water treatment methods listed above, take these steps to protect yourself and others from waterborne illness: If you are in a remote area without toilets, bury human waste poop 8 inches deep and at least feet away from lakes, rivers, and other natural waters.
Anything that's going to affect your immune system there, you have to take extra precautions. But Giardia is typically the big one. That's often what we think about with really kind of the classic case of someone who drank some stream water, comes to the ER, sees their doctor a week later just saying that they're just having profuse, watery diarrhea.
That's usually the big risk. Troy Madsen: Usually. That's often what we think about. Maybe animal feces or a dead animal, some sort of source. And obviously, when you're in the mountains, you might see this crystal, clear spring and think, "This is just fine. Troy Madsen: Who knows, right?
Who knows what's right around the corner or in, you know, the small mountain lake that's then the source of that? You know, you never know what could be in there that could be a source of infection. So you can't trust it just based on how it looks.
Troy Madsen: It is. If you've got iodine tablets with you, you should be safe. Again, if you've got immune problems, reconsider. But for most of us, iodine tablets are going to make things just fine. Man: We're your daily dose of science, conversation, medicine. Subscribe to Our e-Newsletter. Find a doctor or location close to you so you can get the health care you need, when you need it.
Interviewer: That's the big thing? Interviewer: okay. Interviewer: Is that caused by dead animals in the water? Interviewer: Just ten feet away. Interviewer: And iodine is enough to take care of it? Troy Madsen: Yes.
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