Weird GI Parasite virus going around

amother

Powderblue

Sun, Sep 04 2022, 10:11 pm

Does it really feel almost like light contractions? because I'm feeling that now and wondering if I'm getting pregnant, getting my period or getting a stomach virus... I'm on bc so I'm really not sure, and the pregnancy tests are coming out negative so far

amother

Maroon

Sun, Sep 04 2022, 10:11 pm

On one website it was written that mostly adults were getting it. Pediatricians aren't seeing top many kids with it b"h

amother

Oak

Sun, Sep 04 2022, 10:20 pm

Question for those of you who had severe spasms and went to the dr or er: Were you given anything to help relieve the pain?
My teen dd with severe special needs, who can't really express herself, is crying in pain and clutching her stomach. The pediatrician examined her and ruled out appendicitis and other emergent concerns. He said he didn't think we needed to take her to the er but if we feel it's necessary he'll make arrangements. Of course we'd rather keep her home, and we trust the doctor that she's not in danger medically, but we'd take her if she could get pain relief or spasm relief or whatever.
Did anyone receive anything helpful?

amother

Offwhite

Sun, Sep 04 2022, 10:24 pm

amother Maroon wrote:

On one website it was written that mostly adults were getting it. Pediatricians aren't seeing top many kids with it b"h

thats prob because children get it much milder. my baby had it. he was throwing up, diarrhea and on and off kvetchy. I never took him to the dr bcz I assumed was just a virus and just made sure he got his fluids. he wasnt in pain there was no obvious reason to run with him to the dr

but then I got it and omg was so nasty I was writhing in agony

amother

Dodgerblue

Sun, Sep 04 2022, 10:25 pm

amother Chicory wrote:

I’m curious if all of you that caught it by the Mikva were at the same Mikva

I was at New Hampshire.

amother

Offwhite

Sun, Sep 04 2022, 10:26 pm

amother Dodgerblue wrote:

I was at New Hampshire.

I was at madison

amother

Valerian

Sun, Sep 04 2022, 10:26 pm

anyone have this 2 weeks ago?

amother

Green

Sun, Sep 04 2022, 10:47 pm

amother Valerian wrote:

wow I had something like this 2 weeks ago , horrible vomiting on shabbos with lingering nausea for days I kept thinking I was pregnant!

One of my kids brought it home about two weeks ago and my entire family was vomiting nonstop. Not surprised it’s going around.

amother

Maroon

Sun, Sep 04 2022, 11:57 pm

Most pple here are saying their getting over it by now. I hope it's somewhat gone by now.

WhatFor

Mon, Sep 05 2022, 1:55 am

amother Topaz wrote:

I'd revise that number to more like 15% (between pregnancy, postpartum, period-suppressing BC and menopause). But agreed that a bit more detective work is appropriate here!

True.

amother

Alyssum

Mon, Sep 05 2022, 4:35 pm

Curious as to whether people who don't believe in washing their hands with soap and water and have communal hand towels feel differently given what is most probably a disease being spread through bodily fluids in some way.

Has anyone had their stools checked by the doctor to determine the cause?

amother

Chartreuse

Mon, Sep 05 2022, 4:44 pm

amother Glitter wrote:

In reading this while in the bathroom with terrible pain and diarrhea. Feels like gas pain but then I have to go and no sooner than I leave the bathroom o need to do back...I don’t live in Lakewood though

Same. All of this including where I currently am. Hate it.

amother

Offwhite

Mon, Sep 05 2022, 4:47 pm

amother Alyssum wrote:

my niece tested for the parasite and was positive

amother

Alyssum

Mon, Sep 05 2022, 4:55 pm

amother Offwhite wrote:

my niece tested for the parasite and was positive

Which parasite? Was it Giardia

And what was the vector in which it was being spread

What is giardiasis?

Giardiasis is a diarrheal disease caused by the microscopic parasite Giardia duodenalis (or “Giardia” for short). Once a person or animal has been infected with Giardia, the parasite lives in the intestines and is passed in stool (poop). Once outside the body, Giardia can sometimes survive for weeks or even months. Giardia can be found in every region of the United States and around the world.

How do you get giardiasis and how is it spread?

You can get giardiasis if you swallow the Giardia parasite (germ). Giardia—or poop from people or animals infected with Giardia—can contaminate anything it touches. Giardia spreads very easily; even getting tiny amounts of poop in your mouth could make you sick.

Giardiasis can be spread by:

Swallowing unsafe food or water contaminated with Giardia germs
Having close contact with someone who has giardiasis, particularly in childcare settings
Traveling within areas that have poor sanitation
Exposure to poop through s-xual contact from someone who is sick or recently sick with Giardia
Transferring Giardia germs picked up from contaminated surfaces (such as bathroom handles, changing tables, diaper pails, or toys) into your mouth
Having contact with infected animals or animal environments contaminated with poop

What are the symptoms of giardiasis?

Giardia infection (giardiasis) can cause a variety of intestinal symptoms, which include:

Diarrhea
Gas
Foul-smelling, greasy poop that can float
Stomach cramps or pain
Upset stomach or nausea
Dehydration
Symptoms of giardiasis generally begin by having 2 to 5 loose stools (poop) per day and progressively increasing fatigue. Other, less common symptoms include fever, itchy skin, hives, and swelling of the eyes and joints. Over time, giardiasis can also cause weight loss and keep the body from absorbing nutrients it needs, like fat, lactose, vitamin A, and vitamin B12. Some people with Giardia infections have no symptoms at all.

How long after infection do symptoms appear?

Symptoms of giardiasis normally begin 1 to 2 weeks after becoming infected.

How long will symptoms last?

Symptoms generally last anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks. In people with weakened immune systems (e.g., due to illness such as HIV), symptoms may last longer. Healthcare providers can prescribe the appropriate antiparasitic medications to help reduce the amount of time symptoms last.

[b][b]
Who is most at risk of getting giardias[/b]is?[/b]

Anyone can become infected with Giardia. However, those at greatest risk are:

People in childcare settings
People who are in close contact with someone who has the disease
Travelers within areas that have poor sanitation
People who have contact with poop during s-xual activity
Backpackers or campers who drink untreated water from springs, lakes, or rivers
Swimmers who swallow water from swimming pools, hot tubs, splash pads, or untreated recreational water from springs, lakes, or rivers
People who get their household water from a shallow well
People with weakened immune systems
People who have contact with infected animals or animal environments contaminated with poop

How is giardiasis diagnosed?

Contact your healthcare provider if you think you may have giardiasis. Your healthcare provider will ask you to submit stool (poop) samples to see if you are infected. Because it can be difficult to detect Giardia, you may be asked to submit several stool specimens collected over several days to see if you are infected.

What is the treatment for giardiasis?

Many prescription drugs are available to treat giardiasis. Although Giardia can infect all people, infants and pregnant women may be more likely to experience dehydration from the diarrhea caused by giardiasis. To prevent dehydration, infants and pregnant women should drink a lot of fluids while sick. Dehydration can be life-threatening for infants, so it is especially important that parents talk to their healthcare providers about treatment options for their infants.

My child does not have diarrhea but was recently diagnosed with giardiasis. My healthcare provider says treatment is not necessary. Is this correct?

Your child may not need treatment if they have no symptoms, though it is important to consider that their poop may remain a source of infection for other household members for an uncertain period of time. However, if your child does not have diarrhea but does have other symptoms, such as nausea or upset stomach, tiredness, weight loss, or a lack of hunger, you and your healthcare provider may need to consider treatment. The same is true if many family members are sick or if a family member is pregnant and unable to take the most effective medications to treat Giardia. Contact your healthcare provider for specific treatment recommendations.

Can I get giardiasis from my private well?

Giardia-contaminated poop can enter ground water through different ways, including sewage overflows, sewage systems that are not working properly, and polluted storm water. Wells may be more likely to be contaminated by poop after flooding, particularly if the wells are shallow, have been dug or bored, or have been covered by floodwater for long periods of time. Overused, leaky, or poorly maintained septic systems could contaminate nearby wells with germs from poop, including Giardia. Read more about testing your well.

What can I do to prevent and control giardiasis?

To prevent and control Giardia infection, it is important to:

Wash your hands with soap and water during key times, especially:
before preparing food or eating, and
after using the bathroom or changing diapers.
Avoid eating food and drinking water that might be contaminated with Giardia germs.
Properly treat water from springs, lakes, or rivers (surface water) while backpacking or camping if no other source of safe water is available.
Avoid swallowing water from swimming pools, hot tubs, splash pads, and untreated water from springs, lakes, or rivers (surface water) while swimming.
Store, clean, and prepare fruits and vegetables properly.
Practice safe relations by reducing your contact with poop during relations or avoid having relations several weeks after you or your partner have recovered from giardiasis.
For more information, see Prevention and Control.

Top

amother

Tanzanite

Mon, Sep 05 2022, 5:53 pm

amother Offwhite wrote:

my niece tested for the parasite and was positive

Which parasite came up?

amother

Nemesia

Mon, Sep 05 2022, 6:26 pm

amother Tanzanite wrote:

Which parasite came up?

Yes, why is this mysterious bug going unnamed? There may be medications available and people should know how to treat it. I just started having symptoms and I have not been to a pool or mikvah recently nor have I gotten food boxes. I am in Lakewood.

Notsobusy

Mon, Sep 05 2022, 6:34 pm

WhatFor wrote:

I wonder if there's any evidence it was caught through a mikvah other than people who were there getting sick? On any given week approximately 25% of frum women (give or take) will be using the mikvaot. Any time there's a large group of ppl getting ill, a substantial amount of women will be able to say they were in the mikvah in the past ten days. You need some kind of evidence that suggests they got it there (such as ONLY women going to the mikvah getting it, identifying the actual bacteria or virus in the mikvah, etc.)

There are also a lot of men going to the mikva. Many chassidish men go daily. And some yeshivish men go erev shabbos. I don't know percentages, but those men are going much more often than their wives.

amother

Lotus

Mon, Sep 05 2022, 6:53 pm

I'm pregnant and have not been to the mikva, haven't been swimming either

amother

Maroon

Mon, Sep 05 2022, 7:54 pm

So seems like more diahreah then throwing up from what the above article said. Is everyone throwing up also or is it mostly diahreah.

amother

Maroon

Mon, Sep 05 2022, 7:55 pm

amother Nemesia wrote:

What are your symptoms?