Diagnosis
To help diagnose giardia infection, also called giardiasis, your healthcare professional is likely to test a sample of your stool. Your healthcare team may ask you for several stool samples collected over a few days. The samples then go to a lab to look for parasites.
Treatment
Children and adults who have giardia infection without symptoms most often don't need treatment unless they're likely to spread the parasites. Many people who do have symptoms often get better on their own in a few weeks.
When symptoms are bad or the infection doesn't go away, the following medicines can treat giardia infection:
- Metronidazole. Metronidazole is often prescribed to be taken three times a day for five days. Side effects may include upset stomach and a taste of metal in the mouth. Don't drink alcohol while taking this medicine.
- Tinidazole. Tinidazole works as well as metronidazole and has many of the same side effects. But you can take it in a single dose.
- Nitazoxanide. Because it comes in a liquid form, nitazoxanide may be easier for children to swallow. Side effects may include upset stomach, gas, yellow eyes and brightly colored yellow urine.
If you have giardia while pregnant, the medicines may be harmful to the unborn baby. If your symptoms are mild, your healthcare professional might ask you to wait until after the first trimester or longer for treatment. If you need treatment, talk with your healthcare professional about what you can take.
Preparing for your appointment
You might first contact your main healthcare professional, who may send you to a doctor who specializes in digestive system conditions, called a gastroenterologist.
What you can do
Before your appointment, you may want to write a list of answers to the following questions:
- When did your symptoms begin?
- How bad are your symptoms?
- Does anything make them better or worse?
- Do you work or live with small children?
- What medicines, vitamins and supplements do you take and at what dosages?
What to expect from your doctor
During the physical exam, your healthcare professional may gently press on parts of your belly while you're lying down to check for tender areas. Your healthcare professional also may look for signs of dehydration and tell you how to bring in a sample of your stool.
