Betadine - a nonprescription antiseptic. It is available as a solution for external application, aerosols, and suppositories. The active substance of Betadine, povidone iodine, belongs to a class of iodine-containing antiseptics or yodoforov. Antiseptic effect of these substances is provided by the slow release of iodine. Betadine kills microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa and bacterial spores. It is used for the treatment and prevention of infections in wounds and small scratches on the burn and after some surgical procedures. It is also used to treat fungal and bacterial infections of the skin.

If long-term treatment Betadine need to regularly check the function of the thyroid gland The thyroid gland - is responsible for your hormones   patient. In addition, regular use of Betadine is not recommended for patients taking lithium.

Patients with impaired kidney function need to take special care with betadine.

Contraindications

• Allergy to iodine
• Children under two years old
• Pregnancy and lactation (prolonged use is strictly contraindicated, short-term use in some cases permitted)
• Thyroid disorders, such as nodular colloid goiter, endemic goiter Endemic goiter - if not enough iodine   or Hashimoto's thyroiditis
• In most cases, you can not use betadine, if the patient is undergoing treatment with radioactive iodine.

In addition, before using Betadine need to tell your doctor if you are taking any medications, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements Food additives - basic classification   and herbs, as well as if you have ever had an allergy to any medicines, foods, dyes and other substances. About Betadine interaction with other drugs is not enough information, but we can not exclude the possibility of adverse effects to the patient.

How to use betadine

• Before applying Betadine need to clean the affected area of ​​the skin. Apply a small amount of Betadine skin. The treated area can be left open or tie it clean bandage.
• If betadine in your eyes, rinse them with plenty of water. If after that there are signs of an allergic reaction should contact a physician.
• You should also consult your doctor if soon after you start using Betadine you have any allergy symptoms such as hives, difficulty breathing, and / or dizziness Dizziness - if the ground is slipping from under his feet . In any other unusual symptoms should consult a doctor.
• Do not use betadine on extensive areas of the skin and do not use it for longer than one week, if only in this regard there was no clear indication of the doctor.

Side effects

In Betadine rarely observed side effects, but if there are, then, as a rule, it is skin irritation. It takes a few days, or when the patient stops using Betadine. If the irritation becomes a very strong need to stop using the drug earlier than expected, and consult a doctor.

Very rarely, but still occur, such side effects Betadine as swelling of the face, lips, itching and a feeling of tightness in the chest. The most disturbing signs are swelling in the throat and / or signs of asphyxia - the patient starts to choke, the skin becomes bluish. When such symptoms need to seek emergency medical care.

Giardiasis - an infection of the digestive system caused by microscopic parasites - Giardia. In most cases, the infection occurs through infested water. Giardiasis can also be spread from person to person, if it does not comply with the rules of hygiene - for example, if a person does not wash his hands after using the toilet, and then touch the products that will have someone else.

Giardiasis occurs worldwide, but it is most common in areas with poor sanitation. It is most commonly seen in children - they, in turn, can infect their parents.

Symptoms

Symptoms of giardiasis usually appear four to ten days after infection, but sometimes the incubation period lasts for up to three months.

The disease may begin abruptly or develop gradually over several days.

The first symptoms of giardiasis:

• Watery diarrhea, often with unusually strong unpleasant odor;
• Stomach cramps;
• Vomiting;
• Increased body temperature - typically not more than 38 C;
• Flatulence;
• Nausea;
• Bloating;
• Dyspepsia;
• Extreme fatigue;
• Lack of appetite;
• Weight loss, which may take up to 4 to 5 kg.

If untreated, the symptoms may persist for one or two months, and then gradually start to improve.

A small number of patients develop chronic giardiasis, which causes chronic diarrhea or repetitive episodes of diarrhea. Chronic giardiasis can last up to two years. In children, chronic giardiasis can result in slower growth. Among the people who have undergone treatment for giardiasis is a disease rarely flows into the chronic form.

Causes

Pathogens are giardiasis parasite Giardia intestinalis, which can live in the intestines of both humans and animals. In most cases, people get giardiasis from other people. In areas with the highest spread of giardiasis it is a positive one in five people.

Intestinal lamblia is present in the stool of an infected person. In countries where there are no good sanitation, fecal matter can get into the water which people use for drinking and cooking. Thus there is an infection. Intestinal lamblia can survive outside the body for months or even years.

Much less than the water, giardiasis is transmitted through food, dishes and utensils, which touched with dirty hands.

Risk Groups

In addition to children, as well as all residents in areas with poor sanitary conditions, at risk for the disease giardiasis are parents of young children and people who work with children.

People traveling in developing countries, are also at risk of contracting giardiasis. They should pay special attention to hygiene, drink only bottled water, eat in restaurants, which they can trust, or buy packaged foods.

Diagnostics

To diagnose lyamblizoza necessary to analyze stool. If the test is positive intestinal giardia, giardiasis diagnosed. Sometimes it is necessary to analyze several times since intestinal lamblia not always falls into a chair infected. If the tests are negative, but the symptoms point to giardiasis, can be carried out endoscopy Endoscopy - not only diagnosis but also treatment procedure   - In the course of this procedure occur sampling for analyzes of the intestines. From the analysis shows the presence of intestinal giardia - of course, if a person is really infected.

Treatment

In most cases, giardiasis successfully treated using metronidazole Metronidazole - what is it?   - A drug that kills the parasites that caused the infection. It is usually taken in pill form. The course of treatment lasts from three to ten days. Metronidazole is well tolerated in both adults and children; Serious side effects in patients taking it are rare (less than one person out of 1,000).

Patients who for any reason can not take metronidazole may be prescribed an alternative medication - tinidazole. Usually, just a three-day course of treatment with this drug. The risk of side effects of this embodiment the treatment is somewhat higher, but they are usually negligible. Side effects of tinidazole Tinidazole - treats bacterial infections   can be nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach cramping Pain in the stomach when the body asks for help , Diarrhea, metallic taste in the mouth, unusually dark urine.