Medical Health Encyclopedia

Injury Disease Nutrition Poison Symptoms Surgery Test Special Topic

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Digestive system Giardiasis Institutional hygiene Digestive system organs

Overview Symptoms Treatment Prevention

Giardiasis

Alternative Names: Giardia; Traveler's diarrhea - giardiasis Treatment: Some infections resolve on their own. Anti-infective agents such as metronidazole (Flagyl; Protostat) or quinacrine may be used. Furazolidone (Furoxone) is generally used to treat children. Cure rates are generally greater than 80%. Drug resistance may be a factor in treatment failures, sometimes requiring a change in antibiotic therapy. Text Continues Below In pregnant women, treatment should wait until after delivery, because some of the drugs used to treat the infection can be harmful to the fetus. For severe symptoms, paromycin can be used with caution.. Expectations (prognosis): Spontaneous resolution is common, but persistent infections have been reported and require further antibiotic treatment. Some people who have had Giardia infections for a long time are slow to resolve their symptoms even after the infection has gone. Complications: dehydration malabsorption (inadequate absorption of nutrients from the intestinal tract) weight loss Calling your health care provider: Call your health care provider if diarrhea or other symptoms persist beyond 14 days, or if blood in the stool or dehydration occur.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.