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Columbia Encyclopedia entry: giardiasis

Giardiasisjēärdī'əsĭs, järdī'əsĭs, infection of the small intestine by a protozoan, Giardia lamblia. Giardia, which was named after Alfred M. Giard, a French biologist, is spread via the fecal-oral route, most commonly by eating food contaminated by the unwashed hands of an infected person or by drinking groundwater polluted by the feces of infected animals such as dogs and beavers (hence the nickname beaver fever). It attaches itself to the walls of the small intestine and there multiplies quickly. About two thirds of infected individuals develop no symptoms. Symptoms, when present, occur one to three days after infection and consist of diarrhea, flatulence, and abdominal cramps, often accompanied by weight loss. In some cases the infection becomes chronic. Giardiasis has traditionally been considered a tropical disease, but it is becoming more common in developed countries, especially among gay men and among groups of very young children in close contact with each other, as in day-care centers before toilet training and proper handwashing techniques have been mastered. Diagnosis is by direct microscopic examination of the stool or by testing for antibodies to the parasite. In most cases no treatment is necessary. The drugs metronidazole, tinidazole, and nitazoxanide are sometimes prescribed.

Wikipedia search results for: Giardiasis

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Giardiasis in humans is caused by the infection of the small intestine by a single-celled organism called Giardia lamblia. Giardiasis occurs worldwide with a prevalence of 20–30% in developing countries. Additionally, Giardia has a wide range of human and other mammalian hosts, thus making it very difficult to eliminate. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that in the US Giardia infects over 2.5 million people annually. The disease causing agent of giardiasis is the enteric protozoan parasite Giardia Lamblia. G. intestinalis, G. duodenalis, Giardiasis, Giardia enteritis, Lambliasis, lamblia intestinalis, "beaver fever"...more »

Columbia Encyclopedia search results: giardiasis

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Mastigophora
Mastigophora, phylum of unicellular heterotrophic protozoans of the kingdom Protista. Most of the approximately 1,500 species of Mastigophora are propelled by one or more flagella, and members...
sexually transmitted disease
Sexually transmitted disease (STD) or venereal disease, term for infections acquired mainly through sexual contact. Five diseases were traditionally known as venereal diseases: gonorrhea, syph...

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