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Giardiasis

Giardiasis (lambliasis) · Giardióza (lamblióza)

What it is

A parasite from contaminated water that lines the small intestine and stops it absorbing fat — greasy diarrhoea, gas and weight loss.

Symptoms & signs

  • Greasy, foul-smelling diarrhoea
  • bloating and sulphur burps
  • cramps
  • weight loss
  • lactose intolerance after it

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now Dizzy, very thirsty and passing little urine
  • see a doctor soon Blood in the stool or high fever
  • see a doctor soon Diarrhoea lasting over 2 weeks
  • see a doctor soon Losing weight without trying

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Stool antigen or PCR
  • metronidazole or tinidazole
  • treat household contacts if needed
  • nitazoxanide — FDA-approved 2002 for Giardia diarrhoea

Natural & lifestyle

  • Boil or filter water when hiking
  • hand washing
  • avoid swallowing pool water

Emerging & experimental

  • Probiotics as adjuncts

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Garlic (allicin) — killed giardia in lab studies early / small studies
  • Probiotics (Saccharomyces boulardii) — small trials speed recovery early / small studies
  • Goldenseal (berberine) — older small studies; anecdotal anecdotal / traditional

ICD codes