- Main symptoms
- How to diagnose
- How the transmission happens
- How the treatment is done
- How to prevent giardiasis
Giardiasis is an infectious disease caused by the protozoan Giardia lamblia , which can happen due to ingestion of the parasite's cysts present in contaminated water, food or objects.
Infection with Giardia lamblia is more common in children and can be noticed due to the appearance of some symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, yellow stools, abdominal pain and distension, and it is important to consult the doctor so that treatment can be started.
To treat giardiasis, the doctor may recommend medications that fight the parasite, such as Metronidazole, Secnidazole or Tinidazole, and rest and fluid consumption are also recommended to minimize dehydration caused by diarrhea.
Main symptoms
Symptoms of giardiasis usually appear between 1 and 3 weeks after infection, but most patients, especially adults, end up not showing any symptoms of the disease due to the more developed immune system. Thus, it is important to be aware of the symptoms of giardiasis especially in children, such as:
- Abdominal cramps; Diarrhea, which may appear acute and intense or may be mild and persistent; Abdominal swelling; Unintentional weight loss; Yellowish stools, with signs of the presence of fat; Increased intestinal gas; Heartburn, burning and poor digestion.
These symptoms can appear suddenly or gradually, and the longer the disease takes to be identified, the greater the chances that the patient will develop problems such as malnutrition and anemia, due to malabsorption of nutrients in the intestine. See 5 other symptoms that may indicate worms.
How to diagnose
The diagnosis of giardiasis is made based on the symptoms and clinical evaluation of the patient by the doctor, and it is also necessary to perform the stool examination, which identifies the presence of parasitic cysts in the stool. Understand how the stool test is done.
However, it is not uncommon for the test to be negative, even in the presence of infection, so it is often necessary to repeat the test or perform other types of tests using more reliable methods, such as immunological tests on blood and stools or, even the collection of aspirate or intestinal biopsy.
How the transmission happens
Transmission of giardiasis occurs through ingestion of mature Giardia cysts, which can happen in the following ways:
- Ingestion of contaminated water; Consumption of contaminated food, such as raw or poorly washed vegetables; From person to person, through contact with contaminated hands, more common in places with crowds of people, such as day care centers; Anal intimate contact.
In addition, domestic animals can also be infected and transmit Giardia cysts, so they should be treated if suspected.
How the treatment is done
The treatment of giardiasis is done with the use of drugs that fight the protozoan that causes the disease, such as Metronidazole, Tinidazole, Secnidazole or Imidazole, for example, guided by the doctor.
In general, the treatment lasts from 1 to 5 days, depending on the medication used and the person's clinical condition, however, in persistent or recurrent cases, the doctor may prescribe the use of medications for up to 3 weeks. Learn more about the remedies indicated for each type of worm and how to take them.
In addition, hydration with the consumption of fluids and, in the most severe cases, even with serum in the vein, may be necessary due to dehydration caused by diarrhea.
How to prevent giardiasis
To prevent giardiasis, hygiene measures are necessary, such as always washing your hands before taking them to the mouth, correct washing of vegetables, especially those that are eaten raw, treating dogs and cats that may be contaminated, as they can transmit disease, in addition to properly treating water before drinking, such as by boiling or filtering. Find out what are the main ways of treating water and making it drinkable.
