Giardiasis

• What is giardia? 
• Giardia duodenalis is a parasite
• It is the most common gastrointestinal protozoan that causes chronic diarrhoea 

• How dose it spread?
• It is transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated by faeces, by exposure to faecally contaminated surfaces and through person-to-person contact. 

• What are the signs and symptoms?
• stomach cramps
• excessive gas or bloating 
• diarrhoea, which may be water, usually last 1 to several weeks
• frequent loose or pale, greasy faeces which may float in the toilet bowl 
• fatigue
• weight loss
• lactose intolerance may occur in 20 to 40% cases and last several weeks
• fever and bloody diarrhoea are uncommon 
• symptoms usually appear 1-2 weeks following infection and resolver within 2-4 weeks

** many infected have no symptoms**

• How do you diagnose it ?
• Diagnosis is made by stool MCS or multiplex

• How do you treat it ?
• Tinidazole 2 g orally 
• metronidazole 2g orally daily for 3 days or 400 mg orally 8 hourly for 5-7 days 

Reference

• http://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/Public+Content/SA+Health+Internet/Health+topics/Health+conditions+prevention+and+treatment/Infectious+diseases/Giardia+infection/