Giardiasis
Description
Giardiasis is a diarrheal illness caused by the
protozoan Giardia intestinalis, which lives in the intestines
of persons and animals and is passed in their feces. Transmission
occurs from ingestion of fecally contaminated food or drinking water,
swallowing recreational water, from exposure to fecally contaminated
environmental surfaces, and from person to person by the fecal-oral
route.
Occurrence
Giardiasis occurs worldwide.
Risk for Travelers
Risk of infection increases with duration of travel
and is highest for those who live in or visit rural areas, trek in
backcountry areas, or frequently eat or drink in areas that have
poor sanitation and inadequate drinking water treatment facilities.
Clinical Presentation
Symptoms occur approximately 1–2 weeks after
ingestion of the parasite and include diarrhea, abdominal cramps,
bloating, fatigue, weight loss, flatulence, anorexia, or nausea,
in various combinations, and usually last >5 days and can become
chronic resulting in malabsorbtion. Fever and vomiting are uncommon.
The parasite is passed in the feces of an infected person or animal.
Prevention
No vaccine is available and there is no known chemoprophylaxis.
To prevent infection, travelers to disease-endemic areas should be
advised to follow the precautions included in the sections Risks
from Food and Drink.
Treatment
Effective antimicrobial drugs are available, including
metronidazole. Treatment recommendations are available in textbooks
on internal medicine and infectious diseases; consultation with a
travel or tropical medicine specialist can also be sought.
— Michael
Beach
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