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Is quartz treatment possible for giardiasis? Why Giardia is dangerous: symptoms in adults

  • Date: 11/05/2015
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Giardia can be detected in a person, how dangerous are they, what are they and what do they look like?

These creatures in the gastrointestinal tract of people can exist in two states: vegetative (active) and in the form of a cyst (inactive).

They also have a suction disc, which is located on the larger (pear-shaped) part. This disc allows them to be suctioned and held on the object.

For nutrition, Giardia uses a solution of nutrients that is formed during digestion in the small intestine.

Only cysts that look like oval capsules with a dense shell are able to survive in the external environment. Later, they enter the body of another carrier with contaminated water or food, where they become active.

At temperatures below -13° C, their viability is extremely weakened, and they also die in the fresh air within 24 hours (from drying out). Giardia can also die when heated to 60-70°C, if the temperature is maintained at that temperature for 5-10 minutes. Boiling kills them instantly. Interestingly, the cysts are highly resistant to chlorine and ultraviolet radiation.

They can live in feces for 3 weeks at an air temperature of at least 4° C. At 18° C, this period is extended to 90 days. In one day, a person can excrete from 2 million to 18 billion cysts along with waste products.

Once in a comfortable environment, the cyst is released into a mature lamblia, ready for reproduction. To infect the human body, a very small number of cysts are required (only from 8 to 100 pieces).

What is giardiasis?

Giardiasis is much more common in children than in adults. This is explained by the fact that the latter traditionally take better care of their hygiene, nutrition, etc.

Why are Giardia and, accordingly, Giardiasis dangerous? This disease is dangerous primarily due to disruption of the digestion process, stool, intestinal motor functions and failure of secretion. This affects the entire body, leading to a deterioration in its general condition, weakening of the immune system, etc.

With a large accumulation of Giardia, a disruption of the normal absorption of fat-like substances and directly fats and carbohydrates occurs.

Diagnosis and treatment

Due to the specific nature of the disease, its detection is carried out with the mandatory use of a number of tests and laboratory diagnostic methods. The main test to identify the disease is stool examination. This procedure is prescribed in a number of cases, especially in the presence of inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract.

Laboratory diagnostics provide reliable results in most cases. In addition to a stool test, a blood test is performed. An ultrasound scan of a number of internal organs can be performed: liver, pancreas, etc. Nowadays, computer diagnostics are also used.

Both traditional and non-traditional methods can be used for treatment.

But, before using this or that drug or medication, you should consult your doctor. Some remedies may be ineffective or harm the body if you choose them yourself.

Treatment for this disease usually does not require hospital stay, although some complications may require it. Most often, the doctor prescribes one of the following drugs: Tiberal, Tinidazole, Trichopolum, Macmiror, Secnizadol, Furazolidone and Chlorquinaldol. Each of them has its own side effects and characteristics. Therefore, they should be taken exclusively on the recommendation of a doctor and under his supervision.

When using drugs and alternative medicine, it is recommended to obtain a preliminary consultation with a doctor. Among the most commonly used homeopathic medicines, Tanaxol has recently gained considerable popularity. It contains extracts of wormwood and buckthorn bark, yarrow and tansy.

There are a number of other effective herbal remedies that your doctor or pharmacist can recommend.

Following a number of preventive measures can help you avoid contracting this disease. First of all, it is advisable to undergo a medical examination once a year. Observe the rules of hygiene and sanitation, drink boiled water, thoroughly wash and heat-treat food, etc. It is recommended to instill hygiene standards and basic sanitation in children.


Comments

    Megan92 () 2 weeks ago

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    Megan92 () 13 days ago

    Daria () 12 days ago

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The diagnosis of “giardiasis” is made when cysts are detected in the stool or in the contents of the duodenum during duodenal intubation of the liver.

My child is 6 years old. He has atopic dermatitis. When examining the stool, Giardia cysts were found. Doctors say that the cause of the child’s illness is Giardia, is this true?

Giardiasis is otherwise called “the disease of dirty hands.” Infection can occur through improperly washed hands, vegetables, fruits, dishes, water, including tap water, pets and other sources on which cysts were found.

The diagnosis of “giardiasis” is made when cysts are detected in the stool or in the contents of the duodenum during duodenal intubation.

What are the symptoms of this disease and how dangerous is it? In early childhood, giardiasis can cause pain in the intestines in the form of intestinal colic and loose stools. In an adult, it does not cause any particular inconvenience and with a good immune system, Giardia can coexist peacefully with it. But today, very often, giardiasis is considered one of the main causes of many chronic diseases, especially in children (allergies, atopic dermatitis, eczema, immunodeficiency, chronic fatigue syndrome, tonsillitis, rhinitis and others), and it is further stated that lamblia is almost impossible to remove from the body and you will have to come to terms with and learn to live with your illness. Thus, the patient finds himself in a vicious circle.

Today, with great confidence, based on the results of examination and treatment of many thousands of patients, I assert that Giardia cannot independently cause any serious diseases. They are too weak and can only maintain and intensify the symptoms of the above diseases, the cause of which is primarily dysbacteriosis and, which is very important for our region, opisthorchiasis.

Patients often come to me with complaints that they have been unsuccessfully treating their giardiasis for many years. Existing medical methods can successfully combat this disease, but it is also easy, even during treatment, to become infected again. And the more often a person is treated with various chemicals, the better conditions are created in his body for the reproduction of newly introduced cysts and a vicious circle is created again.

The International Academy of Health has developed and patented a highly effective comprehensive treatment method. Its essence lies in the fact that after fighting Giardia, the balance of intestinal microflora and immunity is restored according to the original author's method and, thereby, on the one hand, unfavorable conditions are created in the human body for the development of Giardia when they are re-infected, on the other hand, it is possible remove the actual cause of many of the above diseases and completely cure the person.

Giardiasis is a fairly common contagious disease. The main cause of the disease is low level of personal hygiene. The infection occurs among children and adults with equal frequency, and it is extremely easy to accidentally transmit it to another person.

Several types of tests are used for diagnosis, but stool analysis using the PCR method is considered the most accurate. Its accuracy becomes even higher if it is carried out several times at equal intervals. You can also do a blood test - it will indirectly indicate the presence of microorganisms. Once the disease is identified, treatment must be started immediately.

Therapy for giardiasis must be comprehensive, so a number of drugs are usually used: antibiotics, enterosorbents, antihistamines, vitamin complexes. You should also follow a special diet that will weaken the activity of microorganisms and help you recover.

If treatment is not started in time, giardiasis will cause serious harm to the body. This disease can lead to many complications: then treatment can drag on for quite a long period of time.

Important! If you are affected by Giardia, you should contact a gastroenterologist.

Are helminths dangerous for the body?

Giardia causes various problems with the absorption of essential nutrients in the small intestine, and various malfunctions occur in the functioning of this organ. At the same time, the microorganisms themselves, during their life processes, produce many harmful toxic substances, which subsequently enter the blood.

In general, all problems due to giardiasis begin with the intestines. The following diseases often develop, which provoke other problems:

  1. Steatorrhea. Impaired absorption of fats in the intestine occurs due to the activity of Giardia on the mucous membrane of this organ. It manifests itself as fatty stools, diarrhea, nausea, and bloating.
  2. Hypolactasia, lactose deficiency. Milk sugar begins to break down in insufficient quantities. This leads to various symptoms. Typically, this condition manifests itself with increased gas formation and diarrhea a few hours after consuming dairy products, then subsides.

These diseases provoke the development of other complications due to malabsorption. To cope with intestinal dysfunction in the treatment of giardiasis, enterosorbents are used, which literally protect the mucous membrane and block the entry of harmful substances into the bloodstream.

Important! If steatorrhea or hypolactasia occurs, it is advisable to check for giardiasis.

With proper timely treatment, symptoms from this organ should go away almost immediately with the start of therapy. In the liver form of the disease, a light diet is especially important to remove excess stress on the organ.

What is the danger for children?

This disease is usually more severe in children than in adults. This is explained by the greater susceptibility of the child’s body, which more often experiences various allergic reactions. In the acute stage of the disease, the child develops more active digestive disorders, vomiting, and fever.

In children, this disease more severely disrupts the body’s protective function, and the child begins to get colds more often. In older children, giardiasis can provoke the development of vegetative-vascular dystonia, a set of symptoms that includes constant fatigue, heart rhythm disturbances, and decreased concentration. VSD depletes the body and can significantly harm the child’s health and academic performance.

What are the dangers during pregnancy?

The main danger of giardiasis during pregnancy is the inability to begin timely treatment, which would be absolutely harmless to the unborn child. Most antibiotics have a negative effect on the fetus, so choosing a medicine can be extremely difficult.

There is also a chance of transmitting the infection to a newborn baby, who will be even more difficult to cure. In general, giardiasis during pregnancy weakens the body of the expectant mother, making it more susceptible to various infections and viruses.

Giardia, in principle, always depletes the body as a whole. When the disease occurs, a sharp decrease in immunity occurs, and a person begins to get sick more often from simple colds. Some people with this infection begin to lose hair, crumble nails, and deteriorate their skin.

In order to prevent the development of severe complications due to giardiasis, it is necessary to begin full treatment immediately after identifying the disease. Most dangers arise only in the case of an advanced infection. During treatment, it is also important to observe the rules of personal hygiene and cleanliness of the home so that the disease does not recur and is not transmitted to family members.

Answers to your questions

Giardiasis is an infectious disease that occurs primarily in children. This is due to the peculiarities of their immune system and the structure of the digestive tract. The disease is quite widespread, but is still difficult to diagnose and is often mistaken for an allergy or an enzymatic disease. The reason is the difficulty of identifying the pathogen and the fairly diverse clinical picture of the infection.

Causes of the disease

In humans, intestinal lamblia (Giardia intestinalis) occurs, but there are other species - in many mammals and birds. Scientists have different opinions regarding their pathogenicity for humans, but hygiene measures when interacting with animals must still be observed.

How can you get infected?

The cysts are released into the external environment, where they persist for up to three months or more if it is warm and humid, and many disinfectants, including chlorine, do not kill the cysts. It is possible to destroy them by boiling or freezing below -20-25 0, UV rays (quartzization).

“Favorite” habitats for cysts are drinking water contaminated by sewage, sandboxes, children’s dishes, linen and toys. Children who bite their nails or suck their fingers are almost 100% infected with Giardia.

The growth of Giardia in the intestines is promoted by a lack of protein in food and an excess of carbohydrates, especially sweets, problems with bile secretion and low acidity of gastric juice, disturbance of the intestinal microbial balance.

How are Giardia harmful?

Manifestations of giardiasis.

The clinical symptoms of giardiasis are very similar to a lot of other diseases, and this is its main difficulty. Only two forms can be distinguished - acute and chronic giardiasis, which differ in manifestations.

The first usually occurs in babies and is mistaken for an intestinal infection. It manifests itself as colic in the abdomen with tightening of the legs, increased gas formation, and bloating. The rise in temperature is usually mild and low, accompanied by diarrhea with nausea, regurgitation and loss of appetite. Stool up to 10 times a day, watery, foamy, then becomes less frequent, smells bad and is greasy. In addition, a profuse rash with a swollen base and small bright pink spots appears on the skin. It is located throughout the body and lasts from three to five days. It is usually mistaken for a drug or food allergy. There may be an increase in existing allergies and redness on the eyelids or knees.

Doctors encounter chronic giardiasis more often, and its manifestations are even more vague. First of all, digestion suffers, malabsorption of fats and carbohydrates occurs, and, consequently, vitamins. There are complaints of flatulence, abdominal pain, diarrhea, which can alternate with constipation. There is a coated tongue and cramping pain in the right half of the abdomen, nausea and bouts of vomiting, eating disorders - from refusal to eat to excessive appetite, selectivity in food. The separation of bile is impaired, the child’s weight suffers, and he lags behind in physical and neuropsychic development. A rash may appear as with acute giardiasis, supplemented by allergies, urticaria, strophulus, prurigo and neurodermatitis. Children are pale, especially the face, but their hemoglobin is normal; with toxicosis, the skin has a yellowish tint.

When giardiasis is advanced, a symptom of “dirty elbows” appears - a brownish spotted skin tint in the area of ​​the elbows and knees, cervical folds, follicular keratosis is possible - dry “goose bumps” on the extensor surfaces of the arms and legs, on the abdomen. Hair and nails grow worse, break, change color, lips may crack and peel.

With giardiasis, the heart and blood vessels also suffer; there may be arrhythmias, pressure fluctuations, fainting, and sweating. The nervous system causes rapid fatigue and asthenia, irritability, sleep disturbances, headaches and motion sickness. There may be neuroses - blinking, blinking, low-grade fever, excessive salivation, enuresis and grinding of teeth.

Diagnosis of giardiasis

It is difficult to detect Giardia in feces, but if they are found or their cysts, the diagnosis is clear. But for analysis you need fresh, warm stool; laxatives and enemas cannot be used. Sometimes the titer of antibodies to Giardia in the blood is determined. Additionally, an ultrasound of the liver and a complete blood examination are performed.

Treatment of giardiasis

The basis of treatment is a diet with limited light carbohydrates and an increase in the proportion of protein and plant foods. Sour drinks (to change the intestinal environment) and absorbents - bran, fiber and pectins - are useful. On the recommendation of a doctor, regular milk can be replaced with soy milk.

It is necessary to establish regular bowel movements and bile secretion. This is helped by special procedures - tubages and choleretic products - corn, olive oil, lemons.

Until complete recovery, children remain under dispensary registration with an infectious disease specialist and pediatrician; control stool examinations are carried out three to four times.

Prevention of giardiasis

It is simple but very effective. These are hygiene measures generally accepted for the prevention of any intestinal infection: wash your hands before eating and after using the toilet, boil and filter tap water, wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly with hot water and soap, pour boiling water over berries.

In 1681, Livenhoek saw the simplest creatures through a microscope and called them animaculos, i.e. tiny animals. In 1915 they were renamed Giardia lamblia in honor of professors F. Lamble and A. Giard.

Nowadays, according to zoological nomenclature, it is more correct to call this flagellated protozoan Giardia intestinalis. In the literature you can find other names - Lamblia intestinalis, Giardia lamblia, G. intestinalis, G. Duodenalis.

Two stages of lamblia development

Cysts motionless, oval in shape (length 10-14 µm, width 7.5-10 µm). The formation of trophozoites from cysts takes no more than 10 minutes.

Video. What Giardia looks like under a microscope

Giardia life cycle

Giardia lives in the lumen of the small intestine of humans, dogs, and cats. Giardia cysts are not destroyed by gastric juice. In the duodenum, two vegetative forms are formed from each cyst. Trophozoites double every 9-12 hours.

Using a suction disk, they are attached to the villi of the duodenum and proximal jejunum. Here, the optimal environment for the reproduction of Giardia - the pH of the environment is 6.38-7.02 and intensive parietal digestion occurs. Giardia absorbs nutrients and various enzymes directly from the brush border, therefore, can interfere with and disrupt the process of membrane digestion.

Encystment occurs in the distal parts of the small intestine and colon. A sick person releases up to 12 million cysts per 1 g of feces into the external environment. Giardia cysts are released continuously in 5% of patients, intermittently in 95%. “Silent” intervals are on average 8-14 days.

How can you become infected with Giardia?

Giardia cysts persist in wet feces for up to 3 weeks, and in water for up to 70 days. Chlorinating water does NOT kill Giardia cysts. They survive well in dust and pet hair. Boiling kills Giardia cysts.

The most common source of infection is water and food contaminated with Giardia cysts. They can also be transmitted from person to person, for example, in children's groups and during homosexual relationships.

Signs of giardiasis

The incubation period for giardiasis lasts 1-2 weeks.

What contributes to the rapid proliferation of Giardia in the intestines?

  • foods rich in carbohydrates;
  • lack of protein in food;
  • low bile concentration;
  • high intensity of parietal digestion (typical for children);
  • decreased acidity of gastric juice;
  • intestines after treatment with antibiotics.

What inhibits the proliferation of Giardia in the intestines?

  • protein;
  • low level of parietal digestion, for example, giardiasis is very rare in children with celiac disease;
  • increased acidity (eating cranberries, lingonberries).

Acute giardiasis or primary infestation with Giardia

Acute giardiasis is characterized by fever, vomiting, diarrhea, bloating and rumbling in the abdomen, and a rubella-like or measles-like rash. Stools are pale in color, foamy, mixed with mucus, frequent, and dehydration may develop. Testing for giardiasis is usually not carried out. Patients are diagnosed with “intestinal infection of unknown etiology.” Within 2-3 days, all manifestations can regress due to bowel cleansing. If, with reduced immunity, antibodies are not produced, then giardiasis becomes chronic.

Chronic persistent giardiasis

With chronic giardiasis, general weakness, fatigue, irritability, shallow sleep with disturbing dreams, headaches, dizziness, and sometimes low-grade fever. Giardiasis can cause the development of irritable bowel syndrome.

Paleness of the skin, especially the face, is observed in almost all patients, even with high hemoglobin levels. With a high degree of intoxication, sharp pallor of the skin of the nose - “marble nose”.

Changes in the skin of the palms and soles are noted. The color of the palms and soles becomes icteric pink (orange tint); Dryness and peeling appear, first of all, of the terminal phalanges (finger pads), and then of the entire palm. The skin sometimes comes off in large scales, and pseudovesicles and pseudopustules form (similar to Andrews syndrome).

Follicular punctate keratosis is a constant feature of giardiasis. Against the background of increasing general dryness of the skin, hyperkeratotic plugs of the excretory ducts of the sebaceous and sweat glands appear, which are follicular papules and create the appearance of “goose bumps”. They are located on the extensor surfaces of the arms, legs, lateral surface of the abdomen, and in the sacrum area.

Changes in the skin of the neck - tiny papules, arranged in the form of intermittent chains, slightly pigmented, giving the impression of wavy pigmentation of the skin of the neck.

Damage to the red border of the lips with giardiasis ranges from mild dryness and peeling, which sometimes patients do not pay attention to, to severe cheilitis with cracks, snags, and peeling around.

The hair of patients with giardiasis is thinned, its growth is slowed down, and the hair is multi-colored.

How to treat giardiasis

Preparatory stage of treatment of giardiasis

At the stage of preparatory treatment, choleretic drugs are used - hofitol (see), sorbitol solution 10%, cholenzyme, lyobil, allohol, flamen, odeston, etc., laxatives - magnesium sulfate solution, caffeol, etc.

You can cleanse the liver using tubage (see) or rice sorption (see).

An important role in the treatment of giardiasis is played by limiting the intake of simple carbohydrates in food - sugar, confectionery.

Medicines for Giardia

Furazolidone (synonyms: Diafuron, Furokson, Neftin, Neokolen, Nifulidon, Optazol, Rivopen-O, Trichofuron, Trichofurin, Trifurox, etc.) orally after meals for adults - 100 mg (2 tablets of 50 mg) 4 times a day, for children - 10 mg/kg per day, dividing the daily dose into 3-4 doses. The course of treatment is 7-10 days. Suitable for children over 1 year old. Side effects: itching and allergic skin rashes, nausea, vomiting.

Metronidazole (see prices for analogues) for adults - 500 mg 2 times a day; children at a dose of 15 mg/kg per day in two doses; course of treatment - 5 days.

Nimorazole (synonym - Naxojin) for adults - 500 mg 2 times a day; children - 15 mg/kg per day, divided into 2 doses. The course of treatment is 5-7 days;

Tinidazole (see prices for analogues) for adults - 2 g of tinidazole (4 tablets of 500 mg each) 1 time per day; children over 3 years old - 50 mg/kg body weight 1 time per day. Take once.

Nifuratel (see prices for analogues) has been used for more than three decades in European countries for the treatment of giardiasis, including in young children. Adults - 400 mg 2-3 times a day; children - 15 mg/kg 2 times a day. The course of treatment is 5 days.

Tiberal (see prices for analogues) for adults and children weighing over 35 kg - 3 tablets, once, in the evening; children weighing up to 35 kg - 40 mg/kg, once. The course of treatment is 1-2 days.

Treatment is effective in 95% of patients. However, repeated (up to 5-6 times over several years) isolation of Giardia from the same patient is common. If Giardia is isolated within 3 weeks after treatment, we can talk about the ineffectiveness of the drug, and at a later date - about re-infection.

Folk remedies against lamblia

  • consume beet salad and decoctions of beets, lingonberries, and cranberries daily;
  • take a decoction of birch buds for 2-3 weeks, after a break take a 10-day course of bearberry decoction;
  • alcohol extract of propolis 20%, 5 drops twice a day for 2 months.