What Is Giardiasis?
6. Complications
The watery diarrhea characteristic of giardiasis can cause your body to lose too much fluid, resulting in dehydration. This can be dangerous, especially for young children. It is important to drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated, but avoid any caffeinated drinks. Caffeine is a diuretic that causes you to lose fluids more quickly. For reasons that are not entirely clear, people with giardiasis can develop lactose intolerance that can continue even after the infection subsides.
Because giardia interferes with the absorption of nutrients from the food you eat, it can cause you to lose excess amounts of weight over a dangerously brief period of time. This malabsorption can prevent young children from getting the necessary nourishment they need to grow. This can disrupt a child’s normal development, both physically and mentally.
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