Giardiasis: Symptoms and Causes

Giardia Lamblia Infection

• Giardia infection occurs through ingestion of cysts in contaminated water, often among travelers or campers who drink unfiltered or unpurified water.
• The infection can be spread through poor hygiene and inadequate sanitation.

Symptoms

• Bloating, flatulence, and foul-smelling diarrhea are common symptoms of Giardia infection.
• Steatorrhea (fatty diarrhea) occurs due to excessive mucus production, impairing nutrient absorption in the intestine, leading to deficiencies in vitamins A, D, E, and K.

Life Cycle and Morphology

• The trophozoite form of Giardia is flagellated and has a characteristic shield-like appearance.
• The cyst form has a rounded triangular shape and exhibits "falling leaf" motility.
• The trophozoite has four flagella, two nuclei, and a ventral sucking disk (adhesion disk) for attachment to the intestinal wall.
• The trophozoite absorbs nutrients from the intestinal lumen via pinocytosis.

Diagnosis and Treatment

• Giardia infection can be diagnosed through the presence of trophozoites in stool or by ELISA stool antigen detection.
• Metronidazole is effective in treating Giardia infection.