A Family Doctor's Tale - GIARDIASIS

DOC I HAVE GIARDIASIS

Giardiasis is an acute infectious illness caused by the single celled parasite Giardia lamblia

The bacteria which causes Giardiasis is the Giardia lamblia
which is an extremely hardy parasite able to live in  polluted water, contaminated food and soiled clothes.

Giardiasis infections occur most common in the small intestines.

The parasite can cling to folds of the lining of the small intestine and absorbs nutrients from the fluid in the intestines.

In this way the child may suffer from malnutrition.

The main symptoms of Giardiasis are
1. Many people with Giardiasis 75 % do not have any symptoms .


2.Symptoms of Giardiasis in other cases occur only 1-3 days after infection of the parasite


3. abdominal pain especially at the central part of abdomen


4.diarrhea with foul stools

5.abdominal bloating or gas

Doctors generally diagnose Giardiasis based on:
1. stool cultures.

2.blood tests

The complications of Giardiasis are:
Giardiasis is a disease which can cause :

1.dehydration

2.malnutrition

Treatment of Giardiasis is by:
Giardiasis is an infectious disease which can spread to other people through contaminated food and water.

Anti-parasitic medicines like metronidazole  three times a day for 10 days should work for mild to moderate disease.

Symptomatic treatment includes:
1.Rehydration salts for dehydration


2.antispasmodic drug to stop abdominal cramps

3.medicine to harden the stools such as kaolin

4.medicines to slow down the intestinal movement (lomotil or loperamide).

5.Get plenty of rest.

Prevention of Giardiasis can be by:

1.Good food hygiene and hand washing

2.Avoid contact with the feces of infected person


3.boil drinking and cooking water for 5 minutes

4.Proper filtration of water

5.proper treatment of swimming pools and filtration systems


6.Avoid raw food and vegetables especially in areas where there is giardiasis


Prognosis of Giardiasis is excellent with prompt treatment .


It is important to treat Giardiasis patients  even without symptoms to prevent the spread of Giardiasis.