Know All About
GIARDIASIS
Definition:
Giardia lamblia, found in contaminated water, infecting the small bowel.
Sex or Age most Affected
All ages, but most common in children.
Signs & Symptons
- Sudden diarrhea and abdominal cramps. Some children may have only indigestion and mild diarrhea.
- Loose, bulky, foul smelling stools.
- Slight fever (uncommon).
- Listless child with reduced appetite
- Protruding abdomen
Causes
Giardia parasites enter the body through contaminated food or water, and multiply in the small intestine. Local inflammation, causing diarrhea and other symptoms, occurs in 1 to 3 weeks.
Risk Increases With
- Those living in crowded or unsanitary conditions, especially substandard water supply and poor sanitation system.
- Drinking water from rivers streams etc.
Prevention
- Either boil or treat water with commercial water purifier.
- Avoid uncooked foods that may have been rinsed in contaminated water.
- Wash hands often, especially before meals, to avoid catching infection from other persons.
- Avoid eating uncovered / unheated food from road side vendors
- Practice careful personal hygiene if you have diarrhea
Diagnostic Measures
- Observation of symptoms.
- Medical history and physical exam by a doctor. Specify travel history.
- Laboratory stool studies to detect parasites. May need to be repeated if early studies are negative.
Possible Complications
- Chronic bowel inflammation.
- Malabsorption and weight loss.
- Dehydration.
- Irregular / incomplete medication delays recovery.
TREATMENT
Medication
Don’t use non-prescription drugs for gastrointestinal problems. These can mask symptoms.
Your doctor may prescribe some antiparasitic drug, which is very effective.
Since stool examinations are frequently false-positive, your doctor may treat on the basis of clinical history and examination.