What About Those Particles?
Giardia - they look like they’re having a good time. Weeeee!
Cryptosporidium
As a follow up to Dana’s post yesterday, the NYT has an article which explains the previously mentioned and oh-so mysterious “particles.”
According to the CDC, a Giardia infection can cause the following symptoms:
* Diarrhea
* Gas or flatulence
* Greasy stools that tend to float
* Stomach cramps
* Upset stomach or nausea.
Symptoms of cryptosporidiosis:
The most common symptom of cryptosporidiosis is watery diarrhea. Other symptoms include:
* Dehydration
* Weight loss
* Stomach cramps or pain
* Fever
* Nausea
* Vomiting
Consider this a Health Advisory. If you’re stools start to look greasy and float in the next 3-10 days, you’ve got a giardia infection, and some gross poo. We’ll try to stay away from you.
Come to think of it, the symptoms of cryptosporidiosis sound a hellova lot like how a pregnant woman might feel the day after a coke binge. And Giardia infection symptoms share an uncanny similarity with South Park Episodes.
Woah–I feel queasy just reading this. Thanks for the follow-up. Bourbon neat is looking pretty good right about now.
I once took a month out of my life and spent it on an island (koh tao) in the gulf of thailand (yes, we have a gulf). It was to be a nice time, covering my birthday, living in a beach hut, eating curry and drinking rice whisky. A break from my life in london / bangkok.
then, i got giardia from showering and couldn’t eat, move, or generally do anything for three weeks.
the good news is, that when you have it, it doesn’t matter how greasy anything is, cos you aint looking.
little bastards look like they are having fun, though.