Giardia

Question 1

What is Giardiasis?

Answer 1

enteric infection caused by a eukaryotic, flagellated, binucleated protozoan parasite called Giardia lamblia.

Question 2

What is causes of Giardiasis?

Answer 2

ingestion of cysts (fewer than 10 cysts are required to cause infection). The incubation period ranges from 3-25 days.

After ingestion of cysts, excystation occurs in the proximal small bowel where trophozoites are
released.

Question 3

What is the pathogenesis of giardia?

Answer 3

not completely understood and several hypotheses exist. Theoriesinclude direct damage to the brush border intestinal mucosa either by trophozoites or by host immune-response activation.

Question 4

What is the presentation of giardia?

Answer 4

• Diarrhoea ( sudden in onset and may be initially watery with no mucus, pus, or gross blood.
• Belching
• Malaise
• weight loss
• Abdominal bloating, cramps

Question 5

What are investigations for giardia?

Answer 5

Initial diagnosis of giardiasis is made by stool microscopy.

If the stool specimen is negative or the microscopic expertise is not available, a direct fluorescence antibody (DFA) test that detects intact organisms, or ELISA that detects soluble stool antigens, should be requested.

Question 6

What are DDx?

Answer 6

• Rotavirus
• Functional diarrhoea
• gluten enteropathy
• Ulcerative colitis
• Chron’s disease
• IBS

Question 7

What is the treatment?

Answer 7

Metronidazole