A Simple Guide to Giardiasis
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What is Giardiasis?
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Giardiasis is an acute infectious illness caused by the single celled parasite Giardia lamblia
What is the cause of Giardiasis?
----------------------------------
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.
What are symptoms of Giardiasis?
----------------------------------------------
The main symptoms of Giardiasis are
1. Many people with E.histolytica in stools are passive carrier
2. Invasive bowel disease begins 1-6 months after infection sometimes later
3. abdominal pain especially at the sides
4. altered bowel habit
5.diarrhea with blood or mucus in stools
6.foul stools
7.adominal bloating or gas
8.tenderness on palpation at caecum or sigmoid colon regions
Severe cases may have:
1.more severe symptoms as above
2.bloody stools
3.fever
4.weight loss
5.liver enlargement and tenderness on palpation
6.dehydration and its effects such as delirium and disorientation
7. lassitude and tiredness
8. convulsions
9.tender abdominal mass with obstruction
How is the diagnosis of Giardiasis made?
-----------------------------------------------------
Doctors generally diagnose Giardiasis based on:
1. stool cultures.
2.blood tests
3.colonoscopy
4.liver scan and ultrasound
What are the complications of Giardiasis?
-------------------------------------------
Giardiasis is a disease which can kill espcially through its complications:
1.Perforation of bowel leading to peritonitis or inta-abdominal abscesses
2.Severe hemorrhage uncommon but can cause death
3.Intussusception or insertion of part of colon into another part of colon is rare but can follow amebic ulceration and may cause intestinal obstruction
4.irritable bowel syndrome may persist for some months
5.Lung and pericardial involvement rare but can pose danger
6. cutaneous amebiasis cause deep painful and rapidly spreading ulceration
7.Liver infection can cause damage to liver and result in cirrhosis
8.Liver abscess may perforate and cause peritonitis or produce lung abscess or amebic pericarditis
9.Amebic brain abscess are rare but can occur.
How is Giardiasis treated?
-------------------------------------
Giardiasis is an infectious disease which can spread to other people through contaminated food and water.
1.Anti-parasitic medicines like metronidazole 750mg three times a day for 10 days should work for mild to moderate disease.
2.Metronidazole 750mg three times a day for 10 days and chloroquine or diiodohydroquin (1000mg for 2 days followed by 500mg per day up to 3 weeks) for hepatic amebiosis
3.Emetine hydrochloride 1mg pere kg per day by intramuscular injections for 5 days in acute amebic dysenery
4.tetracycline 250mg four times a day for 10 days my be needed for some with invasive intestinal disease.
5.Diloxanide furoate 500mg three a day for 10 days for asymptomatic amebic cyst carrier
Symptomatic treatment includes:
1.Paracetamol for relief of fever and headache
2.antispasmodic drug to stop abdominal cramps
3.medicine to harden the stools such as kaolin
4.slow down the intestinal movement (lomotil or loperamide).
Gradually reintroduce food, starting with bland, easy-to-digest food, like porridge or soups.
Get plenty of rest.
How is Giardiasis prevented?
----------------------------------------
Prevention of Giardiasis can be by:
1.boil drinking and cooking water for 5 minutes
2.Proper filtration of water
3.Examination of stools of food handlers
4.Avoid eating or drinking foods or liquids that might be contaminated especially by flies
5.Good food hygience and hand washing
What is the prognosis of Giardiasis?
-------------------------------------
Prognosis depends on the stage of disease
It is excellent with prompt treatment of amebic infection.
Luminal disease or dysentery usually respond well to treatment.
In refractory cases chloroquine may be added to metronidazole.
Surgery is rarely necessary.
---------------------------------
What is Giardiasis?
---------------------------
Giardiasis is an acute infectious illness caused by the single celled parasite Giardia lamblia
What is the cause of Giardiasis?
----------------------------------
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.
What are symptoms of Giardiasis?
----------------------------------------------
The main symptoms of Giardiasis are
1. Many people with E.histolytica in stools are passive carrier
2. Invasive bowel disease begins 1-6 months after infection sometimes later
3. abdominal pain especially at the sides
4. altered bowel habit
5.diarrhea with blood or mucus in stools
6.foul stools
7.adominal bloating or gas
8.tenderness on palpation at caecum or sigmoid colon regions
Severe cases may have:
1.more severe symptoms as above
2.bloody stools
3.fever
4.weight loss
5.liver enlargement and tenderness on palpation
6.dehydration and its effects such as delirium and disorientation
7. lassitude and tiredness
8. convulsions
9.tender abdominal mass with obstruction
How is the diagnosis of Giardiasis made?
-----------------------------------------------------
Doctors generally diagnose Giardiasis based on:
1. stool cultures.
2.blood tests
3.colonoscopy
4.liver scan and ultrasound
What are the complications of Giardiasis?
-------------------------------------------
Giardiasis is a disease which can kill espcially through its complications:
1.Perforation of bowel leading to peritonitis or inta-abdominal abscesses
2.Severe hemorrhage uncommon but can cause death
3.Intussusception or insertion of part of colon into another part of colon is rare but can follow amebic ulceration and may cause intestinal obstruction
4.irritable bowel syndrome may persist for some months
5.Lung and pericardial involvement rare but can pose danger
6. cutaneous amebiasis cause deep painful and rapidly spreading ulceration
7.Liver infection can cause damage to liver and result in cirrhosis
8.Liver abscess may perforate and cause peritonitis or produce lung abscess or amebic pericarditis
9.Amebic brain abscess are rare but can occur.
How is Giardiasis treated?
-------------------------------------
Giardiasis is an infectious disease which can spread to other people through contaminated food and water.
1.Anti-parasitic medicines like metronidazole 750mg three times a day for 10 days should work for mild to moderate disease.
2.Metronidazole 750mg three times a day for 10 days and chloroquine or diiodohydroquin (1000mg for 2 days followed by 500mg per day up to 3 weeks) for hepatic amebiosis
3.Emetine hydrochloride 1mg pere kg per day by intramuscular injections for 5 days in acute amebic dysenery
4.tetracycline 250mg four times a day for 10 days my be needed for some with invasive intestinal disease.
5.Diloxanide furoate 500mg three a day for 10 days for asymptomatic amebic cyst carrier
Symptomatic treatment includes:
1.Paracetamol for relief of fever and headache
2.antispasmodic drug to stop abdominal cramps
3.medicine to harden the stools such as kaolin
4.slow down the intestinal movement (lomotil or loperamide).
Gradually reintroduce food, starting with bland, easy-to-digest food, like porridge or soups.
Get plenty of rest.
How is Giardiasis prevented?
----------------------------------------
Prevention of Giardiasis can be by:
1.boil drinking and cooking water for 5 minutes
2.Proper filtration of water
3.Examination of stools of food handlers
4.Avoid eating or drinking foods or liquids that might be contaminated especially by flies
5.Good food hygience and hand washing
What is the prognosis of Giardiasis?
-------------------------------------
Prognosis depends on the stage of disease
It is excellent with prompt treatment of amebic infection.
Luminal disease or dysentery usually respond well to treatment.
In refractory cases chloroquine may be added to metronidazole.
Surgery is rarely necessary.
