Giardia gastroenteritis: symptoms and care

Giardia lives in the small intestine and can interfere with digestion and absorption. Stools may be loose, pale, greasy-smelling, or difficult to flush. Bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, tiredness and loss of appetite can accompany the diarrhoea. Some people have few symptoms, while others remain unwell after the initial infection because the bowel needs time to settle. Exposure can occur through contaminated water or food, swallowing water while swimming, or close contact with an infected person.

Replace fluid regularly with water, broth, or oral rehydration solution; take small sips if nausea is present. Continue gentle meals when able and avoid foods that clearly worsen symptoms. Handwashing with soap and water helps reduce spread, especially after toilet use and before preparing food. A healthcare professional can arrange stool tests when symptoms persist, return, or follow a relevant exposure. Treatment is prescribed according to the suspected organism, test findings, age, pregnancy, and other medicines.

Contact a clinician promptly if diarrhoea continues, fluid intake is difficult, urine becomes scarce or dark, or abdominal pain is increasing. Urgent care is needed for fainting, confusion, severe weakness, blood in stool, repeated vomiting, or signs of significant dehydration. Children, older adults, pregnant people, and people with chronic illness can become dehydrated more quickly and should be assessed early.

Ask whether stool testing is needed, which fluids and foods are suitable, how to prevent household spread, and whether medicines could be worsening diarrhoea. Tell the clinician about travel, untreated water, swimming, contact with diarrhoea, recent antibiotics, and the duration of symptoms.