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Giardiasis is a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Giardia lamblia. The frequency of infection with the intestinal giardia (intestinal lamblia) in Poland is estimated at about 10% of adults and 25–50% of children. Therefore, it belongs to the most common human protozoal parasites. Treatment is selected individually by the doctor.
Giardiasis – characteristics
The parasite is usually located:
- in the duodenum,
- on the intestinal villi,
- in the gallbladder,
- in the biliary tract.
On the other hand, the size of an adult pear-shaped parasite with a convex dorsal side and a flattened ventral side, oscillates between 10–20 µm in length and 5–15 µm in width with a thickness of 2–4 µm.
The giardiasis parasite has 4 pairs of flagella, thanks to which it can move, and a suction cup in the ventral part of the anterior pole that allows the parasite to attach to the mucosa of the host’s gastrointestinal tract. The reproduction of parasites is carried out by longitudinal division, thanks to which it is possible to quickly increase their number in the intestine. When conditions are unfavorable, a number of parasites become thickly enveloped and form oval cysts that are excreted from the infected organism with the faeces. It is estimated that in some patients up to 500 million cysts can be excreted in a single bowel movement.
You can visit your family doctor via the halodoctor.pl portal. The consultation is online, so you don’t have to go to the clinic. You can choose the form that is right for you.
Giardiasis – symptoms
The gastric acidity causes the parasites to multiply. The deposition of parasites in the human body gives various symptoms that depend on the intensity of their invasion. Usually, these are various types of gastrointestinal complaints, such as periodic nausea, pain in the area of the gallbladder or stomach of varying severity, sometimes resembling colic.
Sometimes they dominate (especially in children):
- paroxysmal abdominal pain, difficult to locate,
- digestive disorders,
- predisposition to diarrhea alternating with constipation,
- periodically abundant and badly smelly stools,
- hypochromic anemia caused by iron deficiency,
- emaciation,
- physical underdevelopment.
Sometimes the main symptoms of giardiasis there are periodic, short-term fevers accompanied by malaise and low blood pressure. In addition, it can be an allergic rash on the skin and persistent acne on the face. In both children and adults, infection with intestinal giardia may be asymptomatic in about 10%.
- Try the tea’s action on the lamella
Diagnosis and treatment of giardiasis
The diagnosis of giardiasis is based on the presence of cysts (less often only parasites) in the stool. Ideally, live-moving parasites in freshly collected bile or duodenal contents should be revealed. You can buy a stool test for parasites that you can do yourself without leaving your home at medonetmarket.pl. We also recommend Shipment test for the presence of Giardia lamblia or a wider Shipment test of the intestinal microflora and intestinal markers, which, apart from the presence of parasites, helps in determining the body’s resistance to various types of pathogens. This immunity largely depends on the intestinal microflora.
The type of therapy and the method of carrying out the treatment, together with the dose of the selected drug, is determined each time by the doctor. This should be observed as antiparasitic preparations are not indifferent. Improper use of drugs or taking them in excess can result in severe poisoning, especially in children. Although the treatment has been well adjusted, side effects may occur in some patients. Then there is irritation, dizziness, diarrhea, nausea, skin rash and itching. Side effects usually result from intolerance to a specific drug or because the body is allergic to dying parasites.
Complete cure of giardiasis is difficult because this infection is quite common and may appear in several people at the same time in the same family. Also, the predisposition of parasites to multiply rapidly and their high resistance (especially parasite cysts) make treatment difficult. For example, in moist faeces, cysts can survive for about 3 weeks, in water at 18 ° C for about 3 months, and in the digestive tract of a house fly for up to several days.
As an adjuvant in the treatment of giardiasis, it is worth using For parasites – the Panaseus dietary supplement, which is available on Medonet Market. We also recommend Worms – a mixture of herbs to prepare a special infusion to help the body fight parasites.
For treatment to be successful, patients should follow:
- taking care of personal hygiene,
- sanitary regulations.
It is also important to diagnose carriage early on the basis of examining entire families and employees of the food industry and trade, and simultaneous treatment of all infected family members or people staying together, e.g. in boarding schools, kindergartens. The effectiveness of the treatment should be checked.
Important! If necessary, the treatment should be repeated.
Prophylactically and as an auxiliary during treatment, it is worth drinking herbal infusions of herbs, eg. Tea on lamella, which you can buy at Medonet Market.
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