Staying Healthy in Child Care - National Health and Medical ...

Giardiasis
Description
Giardiasis is a form of gastroenteritis caused by a parasite called Giardia lamblia
which lives in the bowel. Giardia parasites are also found in wild animals, pets and
farm animals. Untreated water that comes directly from lakes and rivers may also
contain Giardia parasites.
Symptoms include diarrhoea, foul-smelling faeces, cramping, excessive gas or
bloating, fatigue, nausea, and sometimes vomiting or weight loss. Fever and bloody
faeces are not usually symptoms of Giardia infections. Many infected people and
animals have no symptoms.
In child care centres, children and adults may be well and not have diarrhoea but still
be infected with the parasite. This makes their faeces potentially infectious to others.
A person with active diarrhoea is more likely to spread the disease than one who
doesn’t have diarrhoea but still has infectious organisms in their faeces. Giardia
infections are spread when:
• Infected people do not wash their hands effectively after going to the toilet.
Contaminated hands can then spread the parasites to food that may be eaten by
others and surfaces that may be touched by others.
• Hands become contaminated while handling infected animals or changing the
nappy of an infected infant.
• People drink contaminated water.
Incubation period
Commonly 6 – 9 days but may range from 5–15 days.
Infectious period
For as long as the organism is in the person’s faeces, whether or not the person has
symptoms.
Exclusion period
Exclude until diarrhoea has stopped for at least 24 hours.
Responsibilities of child care providers/staff
Report the infection to the director.
Contact your local health authority if several children in one group are ill. Public
health workers may be able to help identify how the infectious agent has spread
through the centre and prevent further infection.
Responsibilities of parents
Observe the exclusion period.
Controlling the spread of infection
Exclude a person with infectious diarrhoea from the centre until diarrhoea has stopped
for at least 24 hours.
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Draft for Public Consultation