drugs

Medications to treat Giardiasis

Definition

The term giardiasis refers to an intestinal infection sustained by a flagellated protozoan (from which the name of the disease derives): it is an intestinal disorder that takes the form of abdominal cramps, swelling, watery diarrhea and general malaise. Giardiasis is widespread in the poorest areas of the world, where hygiene is scarce and water is contaminated.

Causes

Giardiasis is a protozoan infection sustained by Giardia lamblia, a microorganism that prefers places with a temperate-tropical climate and poor hygienic conditions. Giardia infects humans through the ingestion of food or water contaminated by its cysts, and through direct contact (eg after handling diapers). Finally, giardiasis can also be contracted by sexual contact.

Symptoms

Giardiasis is asymptomatic for 2/3 of the infected subjects; the rest, can manifest symptoms in a sudden and violent way, or slowly worsen. The most common symptoms are: abdominal cramps, watery diarrhea, flatulence, milk intolerance (never had before), nausea, weight loss, vomiting.

Information on Giardia - Drugs for the Treatment of Giardiasis is not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Giardia - Giardiasis Drugs.

drugs

It is estimated that Giardia- supported infections tend to self-remedy in 4-6 weeks, even without treatment. However, if some parasites hide in the intestinal walls, the characteristic disorders of giardiasis can last for a long time; for this reason, it is advisable to take specific drugs, aimed at eradicating the pest.

Prevention is the most effective weapon: when one goes to warm and temperate places, especially if hygiene is scarce, it is essential to pay attention to small details, even if at first they seem trivial. Below, some simple precautions aimed at preventing giardiasis, to be followed scrupulously when traveling in hot temperate environments, and in poor areas:

  • Do not drink local water: prefer bottle water
  • Do not drink beverages with ice (ice is almost always produced with tap water)
  • Do not eat undercooked products
  • Wash the vegetables thoroughly. When possible, consume fruit without the peel
  • Wash your hands often, especially after the toilet, after contact with a sick person and after changing diapers

Pharmacological treatment is recommended for patients suffering from giardiasis with even mild symptoms; some patients diagnosed with Giardia infection undergo treatment even in the absence of symptoms to reduce the risk of infection. Pregnant women with Giardiasis should avoid taking medication, especially during the first trimester of pregnancy.

The most widely used drugs in therapy are azole derivatives; when diarrhea becomes particularly important, it is recommended to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.

If the infected patient has had sexual relations with one or more partners in the days after the infection, it is recommended to also submit the partner to drug treatment, since Giardia can also be transmitted by sexual contact.

The following are the classes of drugs most used in therapy against giardiasis, and some examples of pharmacological specialties; it is up to the doctor to choose the most suitable active ingredient and posology for the patient, based on the severity of the disease, the health of the patient and his response to treatment:

  • Metronidazole (eg Metronid, Deflamon, Flagyl): is the first-line drug for the treatment of giardiasis. It is recommended to take the drug at a dose of 250 mg, orally, every 8 hours. Continue with this dosage for 7 days, depending on the nature and severity of the infection. For children with giardiasis, the indicative dose is 15 mg / kg per day, to be taken orally, dividing the load into three doses. Continue with this treatment plan for 5-10 days.
  • Tinidazole (eg. Trimonase, Fasigin-N): the recommended dose for treating giardiasis is 2 g, to be taken orally, once a day, with food. Affected children over the age of 3 may take the drug at a dose of 50 mg / kg, up to a max. of 2 g, once a day, with food.
  • Nitazoxanide (eg. Alinia): the drug belongs to the class of amebiaceai-antiprotozoans. For the treatment of diarrhea in immunocompetent subjects suffering from giardiasis, it is recommended to take 500 mg of drug, twice a day, with food for 3 days. For patients with giardiasis and AIDS, it is recommended to take 1 gram of the drug twice a day, with food, for 2 weeks, or until the symptoms are removed. For children aged 12 to 47 months, suffering from giardiasis, it is recommended to administer the drug at a dose of 100 mg (5 ml) by mouth, every 12 hours, for three days. Affected children between the ages of 4 and 11 can take up to 200 mg of drug twice a day for three days; after the age of 12, children with giardiasis can take 500 mg of drug, twice a day, on a full stomach, for three days.
  • Paromomycin (eg Humatin): the drug is used in therapy also for the treatment of teniasis. For the treatment of Giardia infections, it is recommended to take 25-35 mg / kg of drug per os, fractionated in three doses, for 7 days. Even for children and boys with giardiasis, under the age of 18, it is recommended to take the drug at a dose of 25-35 mg / kg per day, orally, by splitting the load in three doses. Continue with this dosage for a week.
  • Albendazole (eg. Zentel): the most suitable dose for the treatment of adult giardiasis is 400 mg, to be taken by mouth, once a day for 5 days. The drug is often used in combination with metronidazole.

A vaccine capable of preventing giardiasis has not yet been devised.