Originally Posted by
TimothyH
More like weeks. The lingering effects can last three months.
Giardia is real. Anyone who drinks untreated water in the wild and hasn't gotten sick has just been lucky, that's all. Some people never get symptoms but become carriers.
Aquamira is what you need if you think you will be drinking from springs/streams.
-Tim-
A friend of mine experienced a giardia infection. His description of the experience he went through sounded worse than when he stepped on a stingray (his "worst pain ever"). Apparently the beezelbub-ish smells you emit after consuming giardia parasites will teach you a lifelong lesson.