Giardiasis

Giardiasis is an intestinal infection caused by a parasite which can be found worldwide and is usually acquired by drinking contaminated water.

The infection can cause nausea, poor appetite, cramps, a bloated stomach, watery and foul-smelling diarrhea and frequent gas, fatigue, and weight loss. Campers who drink unpurified stream water or travelers to foreign cities with inadequate water filtration are most susceptible.

Giardiasis can appear several weeks after you have been exposed to the parasite. The symptoms may disappear for a few days and then return; this can go on for several weeks. Fever and vomiting are uncommon.

Diagnosing this illness may often be difficult since the parasite is not always detectable in the stool. It may be necessary for a gastrointestinal specialist to perform an aspiration or biopsy of the stomach or small bowel to confirm the diagnosis. However, in some instances it is not necessary to make a definite diagnosis. Instead, the patient may be given a trial of medication to eliminate a possible infection.

Treatment with the medication Flagyl (metronidazole) taken for ten days is usually very successful in curing the infection.

Diseases