[Summerbaby06]

We adopted two little girls from Guatemala, and one came home and tested positive for the parasite Giardia.
Apparently this can be passed on through stool to mouth. We have 4 kids, ages 1,2,3 and 4. They all bathe together, grab each other's sippy cups, etc. I try to be VERY vigilant about hand washing, but with young kids, I can't catch everything. So she was put on Flagyl medication and so was my 2 year old son who tested positive for it as well. He HATED his medicine and threw it up every time we gave it to him. I'm almost positive his is not gone. So two weeks ago, our 3 year old daughter from Guatemala was feverish and threw up and some of her spittle went in my eye. Two weeks later, I develop stomach cramping, nausea, unstoppable diarrhea, and vomiting that comes and goes. I finally went to Urgent Care, thinking I was dying of some mutant virus. I insisted they test my stool for Giardia because I had developed hives, which is also an indicator of this parasite. The doctor was quite positive it was not Giardia, but low and behold, I got my results today that I also have it.
Can anyone help???Have any of your children had this when they came home from Guatemala? I really wish the doctor would just treat all of my chilren at once, but they insist on doing individual stool samples at $100 a sample before treating them. By the time the results come back, my kids could have passed it onto a different sibling. I'm afraid the cycle will go on and on. Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated. Sorry this is so long, I am just at my wit's end. Thanks, Molly

[Mandy4President]

Molly

OMG, I am so sorry that this is happening!! It sounds like having a lice breakout only 10000000 X's worse!!! I have no advice for you as I have never heard of it but I can't imagine having to try to keep my 4 kids from touching each other and their things. You have my sympathies girl!!! Get better and I hope that your other kiddos don't have it!!!

[ERAmy]

I hope everyone gets better soon!!

Can you skip baths and just do individual quick wash offs in the tub with the water running?
Make sure to get new toothbrushes for all.
Can you only give them the sippy cups when they ask or at snack/meals and hide them away?
Not sure if the spray would kill it but use disinfectant spray on any toy you cant wash?

Im just impressed you are able to take care of them all on a normal healthy day.

[annaguat]

Twelve years ago my two children 4 and 5 at the time came home wiht it, along with round worm, pin worm tape worm, etc., from Guatemala. DH and I also came home with Giaurdia. We went through the county and had a friend pick up the meds form Mexico. Only DS and DD were treated and I do not think any of the other children got it. DH and I let it run its course. The Flagyl meds is not good for you so maybe that is why your MD is concervative in giving it to everyone. Have you checked your local county for testing etc.? It might be cheaper. Since we are so close to the border they were used to dealing with parasites better then the pediatrician. I am sorry you have to go through this. It is definitely most misserable. Being vigilant about cleanliness is a must. I realize this is very hard with the ages of children you have. Can you isolate the contaminated children in a different room until they are well? Hugs,Anna

[Summerbaby06]

Thanks everyone. Bumping for the evening crowd.

[Sarahsmom818]

I teach a food safety class and this is one of those VERY contagious infections. Great advice from everyone about going through your county health department.

Unfortunately this is spread via the fecal oral route. Get lots of hand sanitizer and lysol or clorox disinfecting wipes. You need to CLEAN everything in the house. Skip the baths togehter, one at a time...and then you need to disinfect the tub after each use. I would also reccommend using gloves to change diapers. Also, keep the toothbrushes seperate & purchase trial size toothpastes for each of you (get new toothbrushes as well). It would aslo be a good idea to purchase the disposable sippy cups and give each child a different color. Hope this helps & goodluck.
Sherry

[cbjz]

You might try going to a health store and speak with one of the naturalists/nutritionist. We came home from Mexico suspecting a parasite had hitched a ride home with us and went to the health store and talked with the nutritionist. We put the whole family on a body cleanse that took care of the problem.