The symptom that a Giardia infection produces, such as diarrhea, can also be caused by many other disorders.
Giardia infection is followed by asymptomatic cyst passage, acute self-limited diarrhea, or a chronic syndrome of diarrhea, malabsorption and weight loss.
The initial acute symptoms of giardiasis may mimic those of acute viral enteritis, Campylobacter infection, bacillary dysentery, bacterial or other food poisoning, acute intestinal amebiasis, or traveler’s diarrhea caused by toxigenic Escherichia coli.
Acute symptoms of giardiasis include water diarrhea, nausea, bloating, belching (described as sulfurous), cramping, abdominal pain and weight loss; these symptoms usually occur 1 to 2 week after the ingestion of cysts.
Acute giardiasis has been well characterized in individuals travelling from areas of low to high endemicity.
The illness usually is self-limited, lasting 2 to 6 weeks, but may recur intermittently or become chronic.
Symptoms of giardiasis
