Giardia Infection (Giardiasis); Diagnosis, Symptoms & Treatment

Symptoms of Giardiasis

The vast majority of those infected with Giardia do not show symptoms and can remain asymptomatic for years. In fact, giardia itself was not found to be a cause of disease until the 70s. In some people, however, it can show symptoms including:

1. Diarrhea: Diarrhea is by far the most common symptom of giardia. It starts as severe watery diarrhea. After a few days, your stools will feel heavy and greasy. Stools also have a foul odor, become harder to flush, and constipation can occur afterward.
2. Nausea and vomiting
3. Abdominal pain: Bouts of diarrhea may be associated with severe cramping abdominal pain that may affect your daily life. It usually subsides after diarrhea stops.
4. Loss of appetite
5. Weight loss
6. Fever: Fever is not a common symptom of giardia, but mild fever can occur especially in immunocompromised patients.
7. Insomnia and generalized body pain: It was found that patients with chronic infection can have irregular sleep cycles and insomnia as well as generalized ill-defined body pain.
8. Generalized weakness and loss of energy: If you have a chronic infection, you may experience generalized weakness and fatigue from minor activities.