Giardiasis
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- Giardiasis Overview
- Giardiasis Causes
- Giardiasis Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Giardiasis Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medications
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- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
Giardiasis Overview
Giardiasis is an infection of the small bowel by a single-celled organism called Giardia lamblia. People become infected with the Giardia parasite after swallowing Giardia cyst often found in water contaminated by raw sewage or animal waste.
- Giardiasis can be found among 2-5% of people in industrialized nations such as the United States. In developing countries, 20-30% of the population may have giardiasis.
- Travelers to foreign countries may develop diarrhea often caused by Giardia.
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Giardiasis
Gastroenteritis (Stomach Flu) »
Gastroenteritis Overview
Gastroenteritis is a condition that causes irritation and inflammation of the stomach and intestines (the gastrointestinal tract). Diarrhea, crampy abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting are the most common symptoms.
Viral infection is the most common cause of gastroenteritis but bacteria, parasites, and food-borne illness (such as shellfish) can be the offending agent.
Many people who experience the vomiting and diarrhea that develop from these types of infections or irritations think they have "food poisoning," and they may indeed have a food-borne illness. Many people also refer to gastroenteritis as "stomach flu," although influenza has nothing to do with the condition.
Travelers to foreign countries may experience "traveler's diarrhea" from contaminated food and unclean water.
- The severity of infectious gastroenteritis depends on the immune system's ability to resist the infection...
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Giardiasis »
Giardia lamblia was originally identified by von Leeuwenhoek in the 1600s and was first recognized in human stool by Vilem Dusan Lambl (1824-1895) in 1859 and by Alfred Giard (1846-1908) after whom it is named.
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