When is GP consultation recommended for giardiasis?

Giardiasis is an intestinal infection that may cause watery or greasy diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, bloating, nausea, tiredness, and smelly wind. Symptoms can come and go, and some people mainly notice poor appetite or weight loss. Other infections and digestive conditions can look similar, so a GP may ask about travel, drinking water, household illness, childcare exposure, and recent swimming before arranging stool testing.

Drink frequent small amounts of fluid and consider oral rehydration advice from a pharmacist if diarrhoea is significant. Wash hands carefully after using the toilet and before preparing food. Avoid preparing food for others while unwell, and record the start of symptoms, stool changes, travel, and any medicines taken. Do not start leftover antibiotics, since treatment depends on the cause and your health.

Seek urgent care for confusion, fainting, very little urine, inability to keep fluids down, severe abdominal pain, blood in the stool, or marked weakness. Contact a clinician sooner if the person affected is a young child, older adult, pregnant, or has a weakened immune system. Persistent diarrhoea after travel also deserves assessment rather than repeated self-treatment.

Ask whether stool testing is needed, how to replace fluids, when you can return to work or school, whether household contacts need advice, and how to prevent passing the infection on.