Giardia

Epidemiology/transmission

  • Compared with many protists, Giardia lamblia has a simple life cycle alternating between cyst and trophozoite

  • Ingestion of cysts from contaminated water or person-person faecal oral

  • Tissue damage caused by trophozoites

Clinical features

  • Asymptomatic

  • Acute: diarrhoea, malodorous, greasy, bloating, flatulence, mausea, weight loss

  • Chronic symptoms

Diagnosis

  • Visualise cyst or trophozoite in stool or biopsy

  • Antigen detection

Management

  • Metronidazole

  • Tinidazole

  • Nitazoxinide