Giardiasis

Alternative names:

giardia

Symptoms:

• diarrhea
• abdominal pain
• abdominal fullness, gaseous or bloated
• abdomen swollen or distended
• nausea
• loss of appetite
• vomiting
• headache
• low grade fever

Note: The acute phase lasts 7 to 14 days.

Signs and tests:

• a positive giardia EIA test
• stool ova and parasites showing Giardia
• a small bowel biopsy showing Giardia
• a string test showing Giardia (rarely performed)

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

• smear of duodenal aspirated fluid
• small bowel tissue biopsy smear
• D-xylose absorption