Question

____ is a common parasitic infection that occurs most often among children, child care workers, and backpackers or campers who drink untreated water from lakes, rivers, or wells.

Answer 1

Giardiasis is a parasitic infection caused by Giardia lamblia and commonly affects children, child care workers, and outdoor enthusiasts who consume untreated water, with transmission occurring via a fecal-oral route.

Step-by-step explanation:

The common parasitic infection that often occurs among children, child care workers, and backpackers or campers who drink untreated water from lakes, rivers, or wells is giardiasis.

Also known as backpacker's diarrhea or beaver fever, giardiasis is caused by the flagellated protist Giardia lamblia, also referred to as Giardia intestinalis or Giardia duodenalis.

This organism establishes infection in the host by using an adhesive disk to attach to the intestinal mucosa and blocks the absorption of nutrients, including fats.

Transmission of G. lamblia is via a fecal-oral route and those at greatest risk include travelers, people in child-care settings, and individuals engaging in outdoor activities, such as camping, in untreated waters.

In areas with poor sanitation, giardiasis can be more common and in the United States, the infection is more prevalent during the summer months when outdoor activities are more frequent.