Does Potassium Permanganate Kill Giardia?

Giardiasis is an infection of the intestines caused by the giardia parasite. This parasite is found in unclean drinking water and causes symptoms such as diarrhea and bloating. These symptoms can last for several weeks when untreated. If symptoms are severe enough, your doctor will prescribe a course of antibiotics to fight the infection.

The parasite

• The giardia parasite can exist in two forms: active and inactive. The active form describes a colony of parasites living inside the intestines of a human or animal. The inactive form exists as an inactive cyst, and is able to survive without a host for months. If you ingest an inactive cyst, the process of digestion dissolves the cyst and releases the active parasites. The parasites cling to the walls of your intestine, where the plant themselves and begin to digest any surrounding organic material. They reproduce by the millions in a short period of time; the longer the parasite is present in the intestinal lining, the more damage is done to the intestines and digestive tract.

Giardiasis prevention

• The only way to prevent giardiasis is to avoid ingesting the parasite in the first place. This can be done by boiling your drinking water for about 10 minutes. Allow the water to cool, then drink; all parasites will have been killed by the heat. You can also use a water filter -- one with pore sizes of 1 micron or less -- to remove harmful substances.

Potassium permanganate

• Potassium permanganate is a salt whose main function is as an oxidizing agent. Invented in 1659 by German chemist J.R. Glauber, the inorganic chemical compound can be used as a mild disinfectant for water. It can remove distasteful smells from standing water and can be found at pool supply stores. Potassium permanganate is also used for a few medical purposes. It can treat fungal infections of the extremities as well as dermatitis (skin inflammation) and candidiasis (a kind of fungal infection). Historically, the salt compound was used as treatment for gonorrhea.

Potassium permanganate and giardia

• This compound is useful in making drinking water a bit safer, but it is not a miracle worker. Potassium permanganate deactivates a small number of bacteria and viruses while also removing iron and manganese from drinking water. However, the compound is not a safe disinfectant; many bacteria and parasites can survive in water that's been treated with potassium permanganate. Potassium permanganate does not kill giardia.