Health Encyclopedia

Giardia infection

Definition

Giardia, or giardiasis, is a parasitic infection of the small intestine. A tiny parasite called Giardia lamblia causes it.

Alternative Names

Giardia; G. duodenalis; G. intestinalis; Traveler's diarrhea - giardiasis

Causes

The giardia parasite lives in soil, food, and water. It may also be found on surfaces that have come into contact with animal or human waste.

You may become infected if you:

Are exposed to a family member with giardiasis
Drink water from lakes or streams where animals such as beavers and muskrats, or domestic animals such as sheep, have left their waste
Eat raw or undercooked food that has been contaminated with the parasite
Have direct person-to-person contact in daycare centers, long-term care homes, or nursing homes with people who are infected with the parasite
Have unprotected anal sex

Travelers are at risk for giardiasis throughout the world. Campers and hikers are at risk if they drink untreated water from streams and lakes.

Symptoms

The time between becoming infected and symptoms is 7 to 14 days.

Non-bloody diarrhea is the main symptom. Other symptoms include:

Abdominal gas or bloating
Headache
Loss of appetite
Low-grade fever
Nausea
Weight loss and loss of body fluids

Some people who have had a giardia infection for a long time continue having symptoms, even after the infection is gone.

Exams and Tests

Tests that may be done include:

Stool antigen test to check for giardia
Stool ova and parasites exam
String test (rarely performed)

Treatment

If there are no symptoms or only mild symptoms, no treatment may be needed. Some infections go away on their own within a few weeks.

Medicines may be used for:

Severe symptoms or symptoms that do not go away
People who work in a daycare center or nursing home, to reduce the spread of disease

Antibiotic treatment is successful for most people. These include tinidazole, nitazoxanide or metronidazole. A change in the type of antibiotic will be tried if symptoms do not go away. Side effects from some of the medicines used to treat giardia are:

Metallic taste in the mouth
Nausea
Severe reaction to alcohol

In most pregnant women, treatment should not start until after delivery. Some drugs used to treat the infection can be harmful to the unborn baby.

Possible Complications

These complications can occur:

Dehydration (loss of water and other fluids in the body)
Malabsorption (inadequate absorption of nutrients from the intestinal tract)
Weight loss

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Contact your health care provider if:

Diarrhea or other symptoms last for more than 14 days
You have blood in your stool
You are dehydrated

Prevention

Purify all stream, pond, river, lake, or well water before drinking it. Use methods such as boiling, filtration, or iodine treatment.

Workers in daycare centers or institutions should use good handwashing and hygiene techniques when moving from child to child or person to person.

Safer sexual practices may decrease the risk for getting or spreading giardiasis. People practicing anal sex should be especially careful.

Peel or wash fresh fruits and vegetables before eating them.

References

Goering RV, Dockrell HM, Zuckerman M, Chiodini PL. Gastrointestinal tract infections. In: Goering RV, Dockrell HM, Zuckerman M, Chiodini PL, eds. Mims' Medical Microbiology and Immunology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 23.

Melia JMP, Sears CL. Infectious enteritis and proctocolitis. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 110.

Nash TE, Hill DR. Giardiasis. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 330.

Nash TE, Bartelt LA. Giardia lamblia. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 279.

Review Date:3/10/2022
Reviewed By:Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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