Giardiasis. Taming this pervasive parasitic infection.
Parasitic infection due to Giardia lamblia can produce severe, disabling gastrointestinal symptoms. Outbreaks have been linked to contaminated municipal water supplies and situations involving person-to-person contact. Immunocompromised patients are especially at risk. Because microscopic examination of stool detects the parasite in only about half of infected patients, use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect Giardia-specific antigen is becoming increasingly popular. In most patients, therapy with quinacrine (Atabrine) hydrochloride, metronidazole (Flagyl, Protostat), or a combination of the two is effective.
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Section of Medicine, Palo Alto Medical Clinic, California, USA.
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D007419:Intestinal Secretions / Q000469:parasitology; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D011433:Propranolol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011796:Quinacrine / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D008795:Metronidazole; D011433:Propranolol; D011796:Quinacrine