Bacteria Buddies

Finally, after about a week of feeling severely sick, Ben is doing better.  A lot better!  As the week progressed, his situation seemed to be coming and going; coming back each time with more intensity.  High fevers, chills, profuse diarrhea... We didn't know what to do.  He had gone to a doctor some days ago, the main doc in town, and was diagnosed with Salmonella...a very "fishy" diagnisis if you ask me.  He was prescribed medication that had been banned in the US due to its severe side effects.  Wisely, Ben researched the drug, and found horrifying info about it.  Worst of all, it's not even used to treat Salmonella or any other intestinal infections.  He stopped taking the medicine, though I was left with a significant amount of anger and frustration.  Finally he went to have a stool test, and the nurse (an american volunteer) gave him some antibiotics for a common intestinal parasite.  At this point, Ben had no choice but to take it, as his condition was deteriorating and sleep was lacking.  By the time his results came back the next day, and he had completed a cycle of antibiotics, and he felt a lot better.   The results stated that he had Giardia.   "Wah Wah"... Giardia travels in the water, through a bacteria that lives in animal feces.  Yum.  Its probably in most of the water in India, especially with all the cows, goats and dogs roaming the streets.  Im not sure how I made through as we share water and food.... Luckily, the antibiotics he was given were already for Giardia.  He seems to be in the clear now.