What is giardiasis and how does it spread. What are the symptoms of Giardia infection. How is giardiasis diagnosed and treated. Who is most at risk for contracting giardiasis. How long do symptoms last after infection.

Understanding Giardiasis: A Microscopic Menace

Giardiasis is a diarrheal illness caused by the microscopic parasite Giardia duodenalis, commonly referred to as Giardia. This tiny organism takes up residence in the intestines of infected individuals and animals, subsequently being passed through their feces. Once outside the body, Giardia can remain viable for extended periods, sometimes surviving for weeks or even months in the environment.

This resilient parasite is not confined to any specific region; it can be found throughout the United States and across the globe. Its widespread presence makes understanding giardiasis crucial for public health awareness and prevention strategies.

The Lifecycle of Giardia

Giardia’s lifecycle is relatively simple but highly effective for its propagation. The parasite exists in two main forms:

• Trophozoites: The active, feeding stage that attaches to the intestinal wall
• Cysts: The dormant, infectious stage that can survive outside the host

When a person or animal ingests Giardia cysts, they pass through the stomach and into the small intestine. There, the cysts open and release trophozoites, which multiply and attach to the intestinal lining. As they move through the digestive system, some trophozoites transform back into cysts, which are then excreted in feces, ready to infect a new host.

Transmission Routes: How Giardia Spreads

Giardia is notorious for its ease of transmission. The parasite spreads through the fecal-oral route, meaning that even minute amounts of contaminated feces entering the mouth can lead to infection. This transmission can occur through various means:

• Consuming contaminated food or water
• Close contact with infected individuals, especially in childcare settings
• Travel to areas with poor sanitation
• Sexual contact involving exposure to feces
• Touching contaminated surfaces and then the mouth
• Contact with infected animals or their environments

The highly infectious nature of Giardia means that proper hygiene and sanitation practices are crucial in preventing its spread. This is particularly important in settings where people are in close contact, such as daycare centers, nursing homes, and households with young children.

Water-borne Transmission: A Major Concern

One of the most significant routes of Giardia transmission is through contaminated water. This can include:

• Drinking untreated water from lakes, rivers, or springs
• Swallowing water while swimming in contaminated pools or natural water bodies
• Consuming water from shallow wells that may be contaminated

Travelers, hikers, and campers are particularly at risk of contracting giardiasis through water-borne transmission. It’s essential to treat or boil water from unknown sources before consumption, especially in areas known for poor sanitation or high rates of Giardia infection.

Recognizing Giardiasis: Symptoms and Their Onset

Giardia infection can manifest with a variety of intestinal symptoms, although some individuals may remain asymptomatic. The most common signs of giardiasis include:

• Diarrhea (typically 2-5 loose stools per day)
• Gas and bloating
• Foul-smelling, greasy stools that may float
• Stomach cramps or pain
• Nausea and upset stomach
• Fatigue and weakness
• Dehydration

Less frequently, infected individuals may experience fever, itchy skin, hives, and swelling of the eyes and joints. It’s important to note that giardiasis can lead to weight loss and malabsorption of essential nutrients over time, including fat, lactose, vitamin A, and vitamin B12.

The Timeline of Giardiasis Symptoms

How soon do symptoms appear after infection with Giardia? Typically, the incubation period for giardiasis is 1 to 2 weeks following exposure to the parasite. This means that individuals may unknowingly spread the infection before they even realize they are ill.

Once symptoms begin, they generally persist for 2 to 6 weeks in otherwise healthy individuals. However, for those with weakened immune systems, such as people living with HIV, the duration of symptoms may be prolonged. Prompt medical intervention can help reduce the duration and severity of symptoms.

Identifying High-Risk Groups for Giardiasis

While anyone can contract giardiasis, certain groups are at higher risk of infection. These include:

1. Children and staff in childcare settings
2. Close contacts of infected individuals
3. International travelers to areas with poor sanitation
4. Individuals engaging in sexual practices involving fecal contact
5. Outdoor enthusiasts who consume untreated water
6. Swimmers who may ingest contaminated water
7. People relying on shallow well water
8. Immunocompromised individuals
9. Those in contact with infected animals or contaminated environments

Understanding these risk factors is crucial for targeted prevention efforts and early detection of giardiasis. Individuals in these high-risk categories should be particularly vigilant about hygiene practices and seek medical attention if they experience symptoms consistent with Giardia infection.

Giardiasis in Children: A Special Concern

Children, especially those in daycare settings, are particularly susceptible to giardiasis. This increased risk is due to several factors:

• Less developed hygiene habits
• Frequent hand-to-mouth contact
• Close proximity to other children who may be infected
• Shared toys and surfaces that may be contaminated

Parents and caregivers should be aware of the signs of giardiasis in children and ensure proper hand hygiene and sanitation practices are followed in childcare environments.

Diagnosing Giardiasis: From Symptoms to Stool Samples

If you suspect you may have giardiasis, it’s essential to consult a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment. The diagnostic process typically involves the following steps:

1. Clinical evaluation: Your healthcare provider will assess your symptoms and medical history.
2. Stool sample collection: You will be asked to provide stool samples for laboratory analysis.
3. Microscopic examination: The samples are examined for the presence of Giardia cysts or trophozoites.
4. Multiple sample testing: Due to the intermittent shedding of the parasite, multiple stool samples over several days may be required for accurate diagnosis.

It’s important to note that detecting Giardia can be challenging, which is why multiple samples are often necessary. In some cases, additional diagnostic methods such as antigen detection tests or PCR may be employed for more accurate results.

The Importance of Accurate Diagnosis

Why is precise diagnosis of giardiasis crucial? Accurate identification of Giardia infection is essential for several reasons:

• It allows for appropriate treatment to be administered
• It helps prevent the spread of the parasite to others
• It can rule out other potential causes of gastrointestinal symptoms
• It contributes to public health tracking and prevention efforts

If you experience persistent diarrhea or other symptoms consistent with giardiasis, don’t hesitate to seek medical attention for proper diagnosis and care.

Treatment Options for Giardiasis: Combating the Parasite

Once diagnosed, giardiasis can be effectively treated with prescription medications. The choice of treatment may depend on factors such as the severity of symptoms, the patient’s age, and overall health status. Common antiparasitic drugs used to treat giardiasis include:

• Metronidazole
• Tinidazole
• Nitazoxanide

These medications work by targeting and eliminating the Giardia parasites in the intestines. It’s crucial to complete the full course of treatment as prescribed by your healthcare provider, even if symptoms improve before the medication is finished.

Managing Giardiasis in Special Populations

How is giardiasis managed in vulnerable groups such as infants and pregnant women? These populations require special consideration:

• Infants: Dehydration is a significant concern. Oral rehydration solutions may be necessary alongside appropriate antiparasitic treatment.
• Pregnant women: Some antiparasitic medications may not be suitable during pregnancy. Treatment options should be carefully discussed with a healthcare provider.

In both cases, maintaining proper hydration is crucial. Infants and pregnant women should consume plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration, which can be particularly dangerous in these groups.

Asymptomatic Giardiasis: To Treat or Not to Treat?

In some cases, individuals may be diagnosed with giardiasis but show no symptoms. This raises the question: should asymptomatic cases be treated? The answer isn’t always straightforward and depends on several factors:

• Potential for transmission to others in the household
• Presence of subtle symptoms like fatigue or weight loss
• Overall health status of the infected individual
• Risk factors in the household (e.g., pregnant family members)

Healthcare providers may recommend treatment even in asymptomatic cases to prevent potential complications and reduce the risk of transmission. However, each case should be evaluated individually to determine the best course of action.

Prevention Strategies: Keeping Giardia at Bay

Preventing giardiasis involves a combination of personal hygiene practices and environmental measures. Here are some key strategies to reduce the risk of Giardia infection:

1. Practice proper hand hygiene: Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water, especially after using the bathroom, changing diapers, and before handling food.
2. Avoid consuming untreated water: When traveling or camping, treat or boil water from unknown sources before drinking.
3. Practice safe food handling: Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly, and avoid consuming raw or undercooked foods in areas with poor sanitation.
4. Use caution in recreational waters: Avoid swallowing water while swimming, and shower after swimming in lakes or rivers.
5. Maintain clean environments: Regularly disinfect surfaces, especially in bathrooms and kitchens.
6. Practice safe sex: Use barriers and avoid sexual practices that may involve fecal contact.
7. Be cautious with animals: Wash hands after handling animals, especially those with diarrhea.

By implementing these preventive measures, individuals can significantly reduce their risk of contracting and spreading giardiasis.

Public Health Measures for Giardia Control

What role do public health initiatives play in controlling Giardia outbreaks? Public health departments and organizations contribute to Giardia control through various means:

• Water treatment and monitoring programs
• Health education campaigns
• Outbreak investigation and management
• Surveillance of Giardia cases to identify trends and risk factors
• Regulation of public swimming facilities

These efforts, combined with individual preventive measures, help to reduce the overall burden of giardiasis in communities.

Living with Giardiasis: Managing the Impact on Daily Life

While giardiasis is typically a self-limiting condition in healthy individuals, it can significantly impact daily life during the course of the infection. Here are some tips for managing giardiasis and its effects:

• Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids to replace those lost through diarrhea.
• Follow dietary recommendations: Your healthcare provider may suggest avoiding certain foods that can exacerbate symptoms.
• Rest: Allow your body time to recover and fight the infection.
• Take medications as prescribed: Complete the full course of antiparasitic treatment.
• Practice good hygiene: Continue to wash hands frequently to prevent spreading the infection to others.
• Monitor for complications: Be aware of signs of dehydration or persistent symptoms.

It’s important to communicate any changes in symptoms or concerns to your healthcare provider throughout the course of the illness.

Long-term Effects of Giardiasis

Can giardiasis have lasting effects even after treatment? While most cases of giardiasis resolve completely with proper treatment, some individuals may experience lingering effects:

• Temporary lactose intolerance
• Irritable bowel syndrome-like symptoms
• Fatigue and weakness
• Weight loss and difficulty regaining weight

These effects are typically temporary, but in some cases, they may persist for weeks or months after the infection has cleared. If you experience ongoing symptoms after treatment for giardiasis, consult your healthcare provider for further evaluation and management.

General Information | Giardia | Parasites

What is giardiasis?

Giardiasis is a diarrheal disease caused by the microscopic parasite Giardia duodenalis (or “Giardia” for short). Once a person or animal has been infected with Giardia, the parasite lives in the intestines and is passed in stool (poop). Once outside the body, Giardia can sometimes survive for weeks or even months. Giardia can be found in every region of the United States and around the world.

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How do you get giardiasis and how is it spread?

You can get giardiasis if you swallow the Giardia parasite (germ). Giardia—or poop from people or animals infected with Giardia—can contaminate anything it touches. Giardia spreads very easily; even getting tiny amounts of poop in your mouth could make you sick.

Giardiasis can be spread by:

• Swallowing unsafe food or water contaminated with Giardia germs
• Having close contact with someone who has giardiasis, particularly in childcare settings
• Traveling within areas that have poor sanitation
• Exposure to poop through sexual contact from someone who is sick or recently sick with Giardia
• Transferring Giardia germs picked up from contaminated surfaces (such as bathroom handles, changing tables, diaper pails, or toys) into your mouth
• Having contact with infected animals or animal environments contaminated with poop

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What are the symptoms of giardiasis?

Giardia infection (giardiasis) can cause a variety of intestinal symptoms, which include:

• Diarrhea
• Gas
• Foul-smelling, greasy poop that can float
• Stomach cramps or pain
• Upset stomach or nausea
• Dehydration

Symptoms of giardiasis generally begin by having 2 to 5 loose stools (poop) per day and progressively increasing fatigue. Other, less common symptoms include fever, itchy skin, hives, and swelling of the eyes and joints. Over time, giardiasis can also cause weight loss and keep the body from absorbing nutrients it needs, like fat, lactose, vitamin A, and vitamin B12. Some people with Giardia infections have no symptoms at all.

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How long after infection do symptoms appear?

Symptoms of giardiasis normally begin 1 to 2 weeks after becoming infected.

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How long will symptoms last?

Symptoms generally last anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks. In people with weakened immune systems (e.g., due to illness such as HIV), symptoms may last longer. Healthcare providers can prescribe the appropriate antiparasitic medications to help reduce the amount of time symptoms last.

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Who is most at risk of getting giardiasis?

Anyone can become infected with Giardia. However, those at greatest risk are:

• People in childcare settings
• People who are in close contact with someone who has the disease
• Travelers within areas that have poor sanitation
• People who have contact with poop during sexual activity
• Backpackers or campers who drink untreated water from springs, lakes, or rivers
• Swimmers who swallow water from swimming pools, hot tubs, splash pads, or untreated recreational water from springs, lakes, or rivers
• People who get their household water from a shallow well
• People with weakened immune systems
• People who have contact with infected animals or animal environments contaminated with poop

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How is giardiasis diagnosed?

Contact your healthcare provider if you think you may have giardiasis. Your healthcare provider will ask you to submit stool (poop) samples to see if you are infected. Because it can be difficult to detect Giardia, you may be asked to submit several stool specimens collected over several days to see if you are infected.

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What is the treatment for giardiasis?

Many prescription drugs are available to treat giardiasis. Although Giardia can infect all people, infants and pregnant women may be more likely to experience dehydration from the diarrhea caused by giardiasis. To prevent dehydration, infants and pregnant women should drink a lot of fluids while sick. Dehydration can be life-threatening for infants, so it is especially important that parents talk to their healthcare providers about treatment options for their infants.

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My child does not have diarrhea but was recently diagnosed with giardiasis. My healthcare provider says treatment is not necessary. Is this correct?

Your child may not need treatment if they have no symptoms, though it is important to consider that their poop may remain a source of infection for other household members for an uncertain period of time. However, if your child does not have diarrhea but does have other symptoms, such as nausea or upset stomach, tiredness, weight loss, or a lack of hunger, you and your healthcare provider may need to consider treatment. The same is true if many family members are sick or if a family member is pregnant and unable to take the most effective medications to treat Giardia. Contact your healthcare provider for specific treatment recommendations.

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Can I get giardiasis from my private well?

Giardia-contaminated poop can enter ground water through different ways, including sewage overflows, sewage systems that are not working properly, and polluted storm water. Wells may be more likely to be contaminated by poop after flooding, particularly if the wells are shallow, have been dug or bored, or have been covered by floodwater for long periods of time. Overused, leaky, or poorly maintained septic systems could contaminate nearby wells with germs from poop, including Giardia. Read more about testing your well.

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What can I do to prevent and control giardiasis?

To prevent and control Giardia infection, it is important to:

• Wash your hands with soap and water during key times, especially:
  • before preparing food or eating, and
  • after using the bathroom or changing diapers.
• Avoid eating food and drinking water that might be contaminated with Giardia germs.
  • Properly treat water from springs, lakes, or rivers (surface water) while backpacking or camping if no other source of safe water is available.
  • Avoid swallowing water from swimming pools, hot tubs, splash pads, and untreated water from springs, lakes, or rivers (surface water) while swimming.
  • Store, clean, and prepare fruits and vegetables properly.
• Practice safe sex by reducing your contact with poop during sex or avoid having sex several weeks after you or your partner have recovered from giardiasis.

For more information, see Prevention and Control.

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Can I get giardiasis from my pet?

The chances of people getting a Giardia infection from dogs or cats are small. The type of Giardia that infects humans is usually not the same type that infects dogs and cats. For more information, see Giardia and Pets.

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Giardia and Pets | Giardia | Parasites

Dog and cat stool (poop) can contain Giardia germs and may make people sick even when the pet appears healthy. Symptoms of Giardia infection in both people and pets can include diarrhea, gas, abdominal discomfort, nausea, and vomiting. It is possible to be infected and have no signs or symptoms of illness.

Can I get

Giardia infection from my pet?

The chances of people getting Giardia infection from dogs or cats are low. The type of Giardia that infects humans is not usually the same type that infects dogs and cats.

If you own other household or exotic pets, contact your veterinarian for more information. Some strains of Giardia can be shared between humans and animals, including chinchillas, beavers, birds, opossums, and monkeys.

How is

Giardia spread?

Anything that touches poop from infected humans or animals can be contaminated with Giardia germs. People and animals become infected when they swallow Giardia germs.  

How does my dog or cat get infected with

Giardia?

Your dog or cat might get infected by:

• Being in contact with infected poop from another dog or cat
• Rolling and playing in contaminated soil
• Licking its body after contact with a contaminated surface (for example, a dirty litter box or dog cage or crate)
• Drinking water from a contaminated creek, pond, or other body of water

Young pets, like puppies and kittens, have a higher risk of illness than adult dogs and cats.

How do I protect myself if my dog or cat has a

Giardia infection?

The chances of getting sick with a Giardia infection from your dog or cat are small. However, there are some steps you can take to minimize your exposure to Giardia if you have dogs or cats:

• Wear gloves when gardening to reduce the risk of coming into contact with infected poop or soil.
• Clean and disinfect household surfaces regularly, and especially areas or supplies that your pet uses such as toys, bedding, and water and food bowls.
• Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after touching your pets, their food or treats, their poop, or their supplies.

If my pet has a

Giardia infection, how do I clean and disinfect my house?

Visit the Clean and Disinfect section on the Prevention and Control page for the steps to take.

How do I reduce the amount of

Giardia in my yard or outdoor environment?

Giardia is hard to eliminate from the environment, but there are things you can do to lower the chances of your pet getting sick again, and to help you and your family stay healthy:

• Always remove poop from your yard or other outdoor areas by using a bag and throwing it away.
• Change cat litterboxes daily.
• Limit pets’ access to common outdoor spaces, such as dog parks or public trails, as much as possible if they have diarrhea or are being treated for Giardia.
• Remove standing water (for example, empty any containers of water and remove any water from fountains that are not in use).
• Do not use bleach or quaternary ammonium compounds in your soil or grass area, as they will not work.
• Do not allow any new animals, especially young ones, to enter the yard or other outdoor space until advised by your veterinarian.

How long does

Giardia survive in the environment?

• Giardia can survive for several months in cold water or soil.
• Giardia can survive much longer in soil at colder temperatures than at room temperature.
• Giardia can survive longer in water at colder temperatures (for example, lake or puddle water during the winter, refrigerated water) than at warmer temperatures (for example, tap water, river or puddle water during the summer or fall).
• Giardia survives much longer in moist, cool environments than in dry, warm environments that have direct sunlight.

How often and for how long should I clean and disinfect my home after my dog or cat is diagnosed with

Giardia infection?

• Clean and disinfect potentially contaminated items (for example, toys, water bowls and food bowls, pet bedding, floors, dog crates, linens, towels, litter box) regularly for as long as your pet is sick.
• If your pet is taking medication, clean and disinfect potentially contaminated items frequently (daily if possible) until a few days after the last dose of medication is given.
• Giardia survival depends on many factors, so we recommend that you consult your veterinarian for further advice.

How do I prevent my dog or cat from getting re-infected, or getting my other pets sick, during treatment?

• If you have other dogs or cats, make sure you tell your veterinarian, even if they are not showing signs of diarrhea. Other pets may also be started on medication, depending on the situation. Even animals without visible signs of Giardia infection may be infected and shedding Giardia into the environment.
• Bathe all household pets with pet shampoo following medical treatment to ensure no poop is in the pet’s coat.
• Clean dogs’ and cats’ environment (for example, holding areas, floors, crates) and wash water bowls daily with soap and water. Clean cages, habitats, and supplies outside the home when possible to avoid contaminating surfaces. If that is not possible, clean them in a laundry sink or bathtub and then disinfect that area immediately afterward. See the Clean and Disinfect section on the Prevention and Control page for more information.
• Limit your dog’s access to creeks, ponds, lakes, and other waterbodies to avoid re-infecting your animal and contaminating the water, which could make other animals sick. 

How do I treat my pet for

Giardia infection?

• If your pet has diarrhea that is not going away, seek veterinary care. Diarrhea has different causes and could result in dehydration or other serious problems.
• Diagnosis and treatment of Giardia infection must be done by a licensed veterinarian.
• No approved over-the-counter treatment is available for Giardia infection.
• Giardia can be passed in poop intermittently, and an animal may appear healthy or without signs of disease before it stops passing Giardia. Repeated poop tests may be necessary.
• Follow your veterinarian’s recommendations and take your pet to all follow-up appointments.

what is it, symptoms, treatment, tests for children and adults

Giardiasis is a protozoan invasion caused by the protozoan Giardia, which affects the small intestine. Shows indigestion. This pathogen was first described by the Czech doctor D. F. Lyambal in 1859. Later, not only the parasite, but also the disease was named after him.

According to the WHO, about 200 million people worldwide are infected with Giardia every year. Most often this happens in Asia, Africa, Latin America. According to official data, up to 150 thousand infections with these protozoa are detected in Russia every year.

Giardiasis is often the cause of intestinal disorders in children of preschool and primary school age. In adults, it is mostly asymptomatic.

Causes

Giardia is the simplest microscopic unicellular parasite from the flagellate class. In the human intestine, it can be in two forms – vegetative and spore. Giardia reproduce by division and double in number every 10-12 hours. The habitat of vegetative forms is the upper part of the small intestine. Cysts are immobile, have an oval shape and are protected by a capsule. In this form, Giardia exists in the large intestine, as well as in the external environment. So they can remain viable for a long time.

The main causes of giardiasis are cysts entering the human body. This happens when eating unwashed vegetables and fruits, violating the rules of hygiene, using unboiled water. This route of transmission is called fecal-oral, since the source of the spread of giardiasis pathogens is an infected person who excretes cysts along with feces. Also, pets can be carriers of giardiasis, and flies and cockroaches act as carriers.

Provoking factors can be overcrowding, living in a polluted environment, poor condition of water supply and sewerage systems, non-compliance with sanitary and hygienic rules. A predisposition to the disease has been identified in children under 10 years of age, in people with malnutrition or dystrophy, congenital malformations of the biliary tract, diseases of the stomach and intestines with a reduced level of acidity, as well as in diets with a too low protein content.

Classification

Signs of giardiasis may be invisible in a quarter of all cases. This condition is called asymptomatic carriage. At the same time, the person himself is not sick, but he becomes a source of infection for others.

Half of all patients with giardiasis have a subclinical disease. They also do not have symptoms and do not consider themselves infected. Only diagnostics helps to identify the disease here.

And only in the remaining percentage of patients the disease has pronounced symptoms that can be acute, subacute or chronic.

Symptoms

Giardiasis often has erased symptoms and proceeds without pronounced clinical manifestations. With a typical form of the disease, the first symptoms begin to appear after the end of the incubation period, which lasts from 1 to 3 weeks, during which time the disease has no manifestations.

The intestinal form of the acute stage is characterized by:

1. Pain in the right hypochondrium, in the navel area and rarely in the lower abdomen.
2. Belching.
3. Feeling of heaviness in the left side of the abdomen.
4. Decreased appetite.
5. Frequent stools up to 3-5 times a day, which may be replaced by constipation.
6. Nausea.
7. Constant feeling of heaviness in the stomach.
8. Flatulence.

In young children, mushy stools are observed. The duration of the acute phase of the disease is 5-7 days, after which either recovery occurs or the infection passes into a subacute chronic course.

Hepatobiliary variant of giardiasis in women and men is manifested by pain in the area of ​​the liver and indigestion.

Skin manifestations can be very different and include pallor, the appearance of an icteric tint, dryness and peeling, and an allergic small rash. Stomatitis may develop in the mouth, and seizures or cracks appear in the corners of the mouth.

The syndrome of intoxication in giardiasis depends on how many cysts have entered the body, as well as on the duration and severity of the disease. Patients may complain of headaches, dizziness, sleep disturbance, decreased performance, irritability, emotional lability. Children may have tics, hyperkinesis, fainting.

Diagnostics

An analysis for giardiasis is the only reliable way to identify the disease, since it often proceeds without symptoms and has no specific manifestations.

The main list of tests for the diagnosis of giardiasis includes:

• Antigenic test for giardia, to detect them in the feces by ICA (immunochromatographic). It helps to identify acute or chronic forms of giardiasis, asymptomatic carriers, and is also an effective method for evaluating treatment.
• Determination of antibodies of classes A, M, G (IgM, IgA, IgG) to Giardia in the blood by ELISA (enzymatic immunoassay) for timely detection of infection.
• Express examination of feces for antigens to giardia, amoeba, cryptosporidium, which helps to diagnose parasitic diseases that occur without vivid symptoms.
• Microscopic method for examining feces for protozoa and helminth eggs.
• Analysis of feces for carbohydrates, which is prescribed for diseases of the small intestine with suspected infection with Giardia.

All other tests and studies for giardiasis are considered non-specific and are prescribed according to indications. These can be blood tests, urine tests, gastroscopy or ultrasound of the abdominal organs.

Treatment

Giardiasis requires complex treatment. Therapy of uncomplicated forms is carried out on an outpatient basis. When the diagnosis is confirmed, one of the antigiardia drugs is prescribed, which must be combined with the intake of cholagogues, as well as drugs that improve the intestinal microflora.

The chronic course requires long-term complex treatment, which will include not only medication, but also a diet for giardiasis, which limits the intake of carbohydrates. Etiotropic drugs help to cope with the simplest, and immunotherapy helps to increase the natural defenses of a person. Be sure to prescribe choleretic agents and probiotics to restore the intestinal microflora.

Modern medicine offers some clinical recommendations in the treatment of giardiasis. At the first stage, diet therapy and fasting days are prescribed, as well as the intake of choleretic, and, if necessary, antihistamines.

In the second stage, the patient takes special antiprotozoal drugs prescribed by a doctor. To get rid of Giardia, not one, but two courses are often prescribed.

At the third stage, multivitamins, enterosorbents, enzyme preparations, immunostimulants, phytotherapy are used.

Prophylaxis

After recovery, the risk of re-infection does not decrease, and relapses occur frequently. To completely get rid of parasites, repeated administration of drugs is often required. Dispensary observation is carried out for 3-6 months with a mandatory examination for parasites.

To prevent infection with giardiasis, you should not drink raw water even from the tap, follow all sanitary and hygienic rules, be sure to wash your hands before eating and after going to the toilet, do not eat unwashed vegetables, fruits, berries.

At the first suspicion of a disease, it is important to consult a doctor and undergo all the necessary studies to refute or confirm the diagnosis with further mandatory treatment.

Scientists: Giardia parasites are hacking into our cells

January 30, 2018

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Photo credit, Science Photo Library

Photo caption,

Dirty water or undercooked food can be contaminated with Giardia

Scientists have studied the feeding mechanism of giardia parasites that cause one of the world’s most common stomach diseases. As it turns out, the parasites that live in humans in the small intestine mimic some of the body’s functions in order to gain access to the nutrients inside the cells of the small intestine.

Giardia, also known as Giardia, parasitizes the small intestine of humans, other mammals and birds.

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For the first time, intestinal Giardia was described by the Czech medical anatomist L iamblem in 1859 year as the causative agent of giardiasis.

In Russia, this disease mainly affects children, but giardiasis is a big problem in Asia and Africa and in regions of the world where there is no access to clean water or where unheated food is eaten.

About half a million cases of giardiasis are diagnosed every year in the world, but until now, scientists did not know how giardia extract nutrients from human tissues.

As scientists from the University of East Anglia have found, parasites use a mechanism that resembles some of the functions of the human body to do this. An article about the study was published in the journal GigaScience.

“Ready meals”

As it turned out, Giardia living in the small intestine secrete special substances to break down the cells of the walls of the small intestine in which they live.

Giardia secrete two types of proteins that help them dissolve the intestinal mucosa and break the bonds between individual cells to gain access to nutrients.

One of these proteins mimics the protein tenascin, which can either increase communication between cells or weaken it when needed, such as wound healing.

But the “tenascin” used by Giardia prevents healing of the cell-binding elements.

“After giardia break down intercellular barriers, opening up access to nutrients, other bacteria get the opportunity to take advantage of these “ready meals”, which in some cases exacerbates the symptoms of giardiasis.”

Image copyright, Getty Images

Image caption,

Giardia can be a threat to tourists or vacationers who drink unpurified water

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Giardiasis usually goes away after a while, or antibiotics are used to treat it.