What is giardiasis and how does it spread. How can you recognize the symptoms of giardiasis. Who is most at risk for contracting giardiasis. How is giardiasis diagnosed and treated. What precautions should be taken to prevent giardiasis infection.

The Microscopic Menace: Unraveling Giardia duodenalis

Giardiasis, a diarrheal disease caused by the microscopic parasite Giardia duodenalis, is a global health concern that affects millions of people annually. This tiny organism, commonly referred to as Giardia, resides in the intestines of infected individuals and animals, making its way into the environment through contaminated feces. Once outside the body, Giardia can remain viable for extended periods, sometimes surviving for weeks or even months in favorable conditions.

Is Giardia limited to specific geographic regions? No, this resilient parasite is ubiquitous, found in every region of the United States and across the globe. Its widespread presence makes understanding giardiasis crucial for public health initiatives and personal wellbeing.

Transmission Pathways: How Giardiasis Spreads

Giardiasis transmission occurs through various routes, all of which involve the ingestion of the Giardia parasite. The ease with which this parasite spreads is alarming; even minute amounts of contaminated feces entering the mouth can lead to infection. Here are the primary ways giardiasis can be contracted:

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

Can Giardia survive in swimming pools? Yes, Giardia can persist in chlorinated water for some time, making recreational water facilities potential sources of infection if proper maintenance protocols are not strictly followed.

Recognizing the Signs: Symptoms of Giardiasis

Giardia infections can manifest a range of intestinal symptoms, though it’s important to note that some individuals may remain asymptomatic. The most common signs of giardiasis include:

• Diarrhea (2 to 5 loose stools per day)
• Gas and bloating
• Foul-smelling, greasy stools that may float
• Abdominal cramps or pain
• Nausea and upset stomach
• Dehydration
• Progressive fatigue

Less frequent symptoms may include fever, itchy skin, hives, and swelling of the eyes and joints. Over time, giardiasis can lead to weight loss and malabsorption of essential nutrients such as fat, lactose, vitamin A, and vitamin B12.

When do symptoms typically appear after infection? The incubation period for giardiasis is usually 1 to 2 weeks following exposure to the parasite. How long do these symptoms persist? In most cases, symptoms last between 2 to 6 weeks, though they may be prolonged in individuals with weakened immune systems.

Vulnerable Populations: Who’s at Highest Risk?

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

1. Children and staff in childcare settings
2. Close contacts of infected individuals
3. Travelers to areas with poor sanitation
4. Individuals engaging in sexual activities with exposure to fecal matter
5. Outdoor enthusiasts who consume untreated water from natural sources
6. Swimmers in potentially contaminated recreational waters
7. People relying on shallow well water
8. Immunocompromised individuals
9. Those in contact with infected animals or contaminated environments

Why are children in daycare settings particularly susceptible? The close proximity and frequent hand-to-mouth behaviors common in young children, combined with the challenges of maintaining perfect hygiene in these environments, create ideal conditions for Giardia transmission.

Diagnosing Giardiasis: From Suspicion to Confirmation

If you suspect you may have giardiasis, it’s crucial to consult a healthcare provider promptly. The diagnostic process typically involves submitting stool samples for laboratory analysis. Due to the intermittent nature of Giardia shedding, multiple stool specimens collected over several days may be necessary to confirm the infection.

Are blood tests useful in diagnosing giardiasis? While blood tests can sometimes indicate the presence of parasitic infections, they are not the primary diagnostic tool for giardiasis. Stool analysis remains the gold standard for identifying Giardia infections.

Advanced Diagnostic Techniques

In cases where traditional stool analysis yields inconclusive results, healthcare providers may employ more advanced diagnostic techniques. These may include:

• Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests
• Direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) tests
• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays

These methods can detect Giardia antigens or genetic material, offering increased sensitivity in diagnosis.

Treatment Approaches: Combating Giardiasis

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

• Metronidazole
• Tinidazole
• Nitazoxanide

Is treatment always necessary for giardiasis? Not always. In some cases, particularly in asymptomatic individuals, healthcare providers may recommend monitoring without immediate treatment. However, it’s important to consider the risk of transmission to others, especially in household settings.

Special Considerations for Vulnerable Groups

Infants and pregnant women infected with Giardia require special attention due to their increased risk of dehydration from diarrhea. Maintaining proper hydration is crucial, and healthcare providers may recommend specific fluid replacement strategies alongside antiparasitic treatment.

For immunocompromised individuals, giardiasis can be more severe and persistent. In these cases, extended treatment courses or alternative medication regimens may be necessary to effectively clear the infection.

Prevention Strategies: Keeping Giardia at Bay

Preventing giardiasis involves a multifaceted approach focusing on hygiene, water safety, and environmental management. Key preventive measures include:

1. Practicing good hand hygiene, especially after using the bathroom, changing diapers, and before handling food
2. Avoiding swallowing water while swimming in pools, lakes, or rivers
3. Properly treating water from untrusted sources before consumption
4. Washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating
5. Avoiding unpasteurized dairy products
6. Practicing safe sex to prevent fecal-oral transmission
7. Maintaining clean and hygienic conditions in childcare facilities

Can pets transmit Giardia to humans? Yes, while not all Giardia species that infect animals can infect humans, some can. Proper hygiene when handling pets, especially those with diarrhea, is essential to prevent potential transmission.

Travel Precautions

Travelers to areas with poor sanitation should take extra precautions to avoid giardiasis:

• Drink only bottled or boiled water
• Avoid ice cubes in drinks
• Use bottled water for brushing teeth
• Eat only thoroughly cooked foods or fruits that can be peeled
• Carry alcohol-based hand sanitizers for use when soap and water are unavailable

Long-term Impact: Living with Giardiasis

While most cases of giardiasis resolve with proper treatment, some individuals may experience long-term effects. These can include:

• Persistent digestive issues
• Lactose intolerance
• Chronic fatigue
• Irritable bowel syndrome-like symptoms

Can giardiasis recur after treatment? Yes, reinfection is possible, especially in areas where Giardia is prevalent. Maintaining good hygiene practices and avoiding contaminated water sources is crucial to prevent recurrence.

Psychological Impact

The chronic nature of some giardiasis cases can have psychological effects on patients. Anxiety about potential reinfection or lingering symptoms may affect quality of life. Healthcare providers should address these concerns and provide appropriate support or referrals when necessary.

Research Frontiers: Advancing Our Understanding of Giardiasis

Ongoing research into Giardia and giardiasis is crucial for improving prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies. Current areas of focus include:

• Developing more effective and targeted antiparasitic drugs
• Investigating the potential for Giardia vaccines
• Studying the long-term health effects of chronic giardiasis
• Exploring the relationship between Giardia infections and the gut microbiome
• Improving diagnostic techniques for faster and more accurate detection

How might advances in giardiasis research benefit other areas of medicine? Insights gained from studying Giardia’s interactions with the human immune system and gut environment could have broader applications in understanding and treating other gastrointestinal disorders and parasitic infections.

Emerging Technologies in Giardia Research

Cutting-edge technologies are being employed to further our understanding of Giardia and improve our ability to combat giardiasis:

1. CRISPR gene editing for studying Giardia genetics
2. Advanced imaging techniques for visualizing host-parasite interactions
3. Artificial intelligence for predicting drug efficacy and resistance
4. Microfluidic devices for studying Giardia behavior in controlled environments

These technological advancements promise to accelerate progress in giardiasis research and potentially lead to breakthrough treatments and prevention strategies.

Global Health Perspective: Giardiasis as a Neglected Tropical Disease

While giardiasis affects populations worldwide, its impact is particularly severe in developing countries with limited access to clean water and sanitation. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies giardiasis as a neglected tropical disease, highlighting the need for increased attention and resources to combat its spread.

What challenges do developing countries face in controlling giardiasis? Limited healthcare infrastructure, inadequate sanitation systems, and lack of access to clean water sources all contribute to the persistent prevalence of giardiasis in many developing regions.

International Efforts and Collaborations

Various international organizations and initiatives are working to address the global burden of giardiasis:

• WHO’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programs
• UNICEF’s efforts to improve water quality in schools and communities
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) global health initiatives
• Non-governmental organizations focusing on water purification technologies

These collaborative efforts aim to reduce the incidence of giardiasis and other waterborne diseases through improved infrastructure, education, and access to treatment.

Education and Awareness: Key Tools in Giardiasis Prevention

Raising public awareness about giardiasis is crucial for effective prevention and control. Educational initiatives should focus on:

1. Proper hand hygiene practices
2. Safe water handling and treatment methods
3. Recognition of giardiasis symptoms
4. Importance of seeking medical attention for persistent diarrhea
5. Safe food handling and preparation techniques

How can healthcare providers contribute to giardiasis education? Healthcare professionals play a vital role in educating patients about giardiasis risks, prevention strategies, and the importance of completing prescribed treatments to prevent transmission to others.

Targeted Education for High-Risk Groups

Tailored educational programs can be particularly effective for groups at higher risk of giardiasis:

• Childcare workers and parents of young children
• International travelers
• Outdoor enthusiasts and campers
• Individuals with compromised immune systems
• Pet owners, particularly those with young animals

By providing specific, relevant information to these groups, prevention efforts can be more focused and effective.

The Economic Burden of Giardiasis: Beyond Individual Health

The impact of giardiasis extends beyond individual health, affecting economies on local and global scales. The economic burden includes:

• Direct healthcare costs for diagnosis and treatment
• Lost productivity due to illness
• Expenses related to water treatment and sanitation improvements
• Impact on tourism in affected areas

How does giardiasis affect the tourism industry? In regions where giardiasis is endemic, concerns about water safety can deter tourists, potentially impacting local economies that rely heavily on tourism revenue.

Cost-Effective Interventions

Investing in giardiasis prevention and control can yield significant economic benefits. Cost-effective interventions include:

1. Improving water treatment infrastructure
2. Implementing comprehensive hygiene education programs
3. Enhancing surveillance and early detection systems
4. Subsidizing antiparasitic medications in high-risk areas

These measures can reduce the overall economic burden of giardiasis while improving public health outcomes.

Future Outlook: Challenges and Opportunities in Giardiasis Control

As we look to the future, several challenges and opportunities emerge in the fight against giardiasis:

Challenges:

• Climate change potentially altering Giardia distribution patterns
• Increasing antiparasitic drug resistance
• Addressing giardiasis in conflict zones and refugee populations
• Balancing economic development with environmental protection

Opportunities:

• Advancements in water purification technologies
• Improved molecular diagnostic techniques
• Potential development of Giardia vaccines
• Increased global collaboration in neglected tropical disease research

How might technological advancements impact giardiasis control in the coming decades? Emerging technologies such as nanotechnology-based water filters, rapid point-of-care diagnostics, and novel drug delivery systems could revolutionize our approach to preventing and treating giardiasis.

In conclusion, giardiasis remains a significant global health challenge, but ongoing research, education, and international cooperation offer hope for improved control and prevention strategies. By understanding the complex interplay of factors contributing to Giardia transmission and infection, we can work towards a future where the burden of this parasitic disease is substantially reduced.

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.

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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.

Top of Page

How long after infection do symptoms appear?

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

Top of Page

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.

Top of Page

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

Top of Page

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.

Top of Page

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.

Top of Page

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.

Top of Page

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.

Top of Page

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.

Top of Page

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.

Top of Page

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

Sign up for our Context mailing list to help you sort things out.

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.

• The Black Death in Europe was spread by people, not by rats
• British scientists: even one cigarette a day is harmful
• Restless legs syndrome: when the night turns into torture

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

“Bad Bacteria”

Skip the Podcast and continue reading.

Podcast

What was that?

We quickly, simply and clearly explain what happened, why it’s important and what’s next.

episodes

End of story Podcast

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