Abstract
In an effort to better describe the incidence and characteristics of chronic giardiasis in an urban private practice outpatient setting, we reviewed our experience of 65 cases. In the entire group, the mean duration of symptoms was 1.9 years. A history of foreign travel was described by 45%. No association with homosexuality was noted. Chronic giardiasis, defined as that population symptomatic for six months or longer, constituted 58% of the entire group (38 cases). For these patients the mean duration of symptoms was 3.3 years. When compared to acute giardiasis, an increased frequency of constipation and upper gastrointestinal complaints was noted in the chronic population. Symptomatic cure was obtained in 71% of chronic cases and 93% of acute. Palliative results were noted in 18% of chronic cases and 4% of acute. We conclude that giardiasis is frequently a chronic disease in our population with symptoms lasting years. The incidence is similar in both sexes and a history of foreign travel is often absent. A disproportionate incidence in male homosexuals was not noted in our study.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Lumsden WHR, Muller R, Baker Jr: Adv Parasitol 17:1–27
William DC, Shookhoff HB, Felman YA, et al: High rates of enteric protozoal infections in selected homosexual men attending a venereal disease clinic. Sex Transm Dis 5:155–157, 1978
Kean BH, William DC, Luminais SK: Epidemic of amoebiasis and giardiasis in a biased population. Br J Vener Dis 55:375–378, 1979
Schmerin MJ, Jones TC, Klein H: Giardiasis: Association with homosexuality. Ann Intern Med 88:801–803, 1978
Wolfe MS: Giardiasis. JAMA 223:1362–1365, 1975
Grandwohl RBH: Clinical Laboratory Methods and Diagnosis. St. Louis, C. V. Mosby, 1943
Wolfe MS: Giardiasis. N Engl J Med 298:319–321, 1978
Brodsky RE, Spencer HC, Schultz MG: Giardiasis in American travelers to the Soviet Union. J Infect Dis 130:319, 1969
Veazie L: Epidemic giardiasis. N Engl J Med 281:853, 1969
Manson-Bahr P: The Dysenteric Disorders. London, Cassell and Company, 1939
Khosla SN, Sharma SV, Shivastava SC: Malabsorption in giardasis. Am J Gastroenterol 69:694–700, 1978
Petersen H: Giardiasis (lambliasis). Scand J Gastroenterol 7:4–44, 1972
Hartong WA, Gourley WK, Arvanitakis C: Giardiasis: Clinical spectrum and functional structural abnormalities of the small intestinal mucosa. Gastroenterology 77:61–69, 1979
Burke JA: The clinical and laboratory diagnosis of giardiasis. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci 7:373–391, 1977
Smith JW, Wolfe MS: Giardiasis. Annu Rev Med 31:373–383, 1980
Zinneman HH, Kaplan AP: The association of giardiasis with reduced intestinal secretory immunoglobulin A. Am J Dig Dis 17:793–797, 1972
Wright SG, Tomkins AM, Ridley DS: Giardiasis: Clinical and therapeutic aspects. Gut 18:343–350, 1977
Palumbo PJ, Scudamore HH, Thompson JH: Relationship of infestation withGiardia lamblia to intestinal malabsorption syndromes. Proc Mayo Clin 33:589–598, 1962
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chester, A.C., Macmurray, F.G., Restifo, M.D. et al. Giardiasis as a chronic disease. Digest Dis Sci 30, 215–218 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01347886
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01347886