Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
Giardiasis is an infection of the small intestine caused by a microscopic organism (protozoa), Giardia lamblia.
Alternative Names
Giardia; Traveler's diarrhea - giardiasis
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Giardiasis outbreaks can occur in communities in both developed and developing countries where water supplies become contaminated with raw sewage.
It can be contracted by drinking water from lakes or streams where water-dwelling animals such as beavers and muskrats, or domestic animals such as sheep, have caused contamination. It is also spread by direct person-to-person contact, which has caused outbreaks in institutions such as day care centers.
Travelers are at risk for giardiasis throughout the world. Campers and hikers are at risk if they drink untreated water from streams and lakes. Other risk factors include:
- Exposure to a family member with giardiasis
- Institutional (day care or nursing home) exposure
- Unprotected anal sex
Review Date: 05/25/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of
Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of
Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine,
Harvard Medical School; Assistant in Medicine, Division of
Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General
Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director,
A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
