water

[William]

 William,
Thank you for the additional info and the promptness in wich you posted it. Learned quite a bit about it. The info I had given was based on what our local doctors had told me when a few friends caught it, and from our local vets who treated my dogs. Just about lost 2 dogs to it, and know of dozens of others that have not been as fortunate. Dont know where they got the rate for how many people get it but thats a might bit lower than what we have locally.  We have several cases locally a year. The info you have given is very helpful as to what more symptoms are and what treatments are. Either way this is a very nasty thing to get and it can be fatal if not treated in time.
Voy

It sounds horrible, a real nasty microbe.  It appears to be quite treatable though hard to detect
.
Itraconazole given orally is the treatment of choice for most forms of the disease. Ketoconazole may also be used. Cure rates are high, and the treatment over a period of months is usually well tolerated. Amphotericin B is considerably more toxic*  , and is usually reserved for immunocompromised patients who are critically ill and those with central nervous system disease. Fluconazole has also been tested on patients in Canada.
*  I know, I was on it in 1987, and both patients and doctors refer to it as "ampho-terrible!"  It didn't work on me, but fortunately that was just as Itraconazole was starting it's first human testing, which I was a part of and that worked.

[Jim Aude]

We always carry a water purifier when on a scout, primitive or not. When going primitive we simply hide the purifier in a linen bag and stick it in the bottom of our knapsack or bed roll.   

[jbtusa]

Carry a water filter down to 3 microns.  Giadia is everywhere now, even up in the pristine mountains, so a "purist" primitive trek is now factually impossible.  The old timers didn't have giardia to contend with.  Giardia is serious; it causes permanent damage to heart tissue.  Do not ignore this issue and never drink untreated water. 

[chuck w.]

Food/water safety is something i will not compromise on. P.C. or not, I pack a Katidyne hiker model pump water filter and spare filter element. I only carry a quart of H2O. Unless I'm in an arid area.

[voyageur1688]

 We do have giardia here but not as often as in some other areas. Every area has its nasty lil critters that ya gotta worry bout an some are worse than others.Thing with blasto that I mentioned is that it can be hard to detect an it can be real bad if they dont figure it out fast.
Voy