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Query: UMLS:C0017536 (giardiasis)
 1,714 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

In an effort to better describe the incidence and characteristics of chronic giardiasis in an urban private practice outpatient setting, we reviewed our experience of 65 cases. In the entire group, the mean duration of symptoms was 1.9 years. A history of foreign travel was described by 45%. No association with homosexuality was noted. Chronic giardiasis, defined as that population symptomatic for six months or longer, constituted 58% of the entire group (38 cases). For these patients the mean duration of symptoms was 3.3 years. When compared to acute giardiasis, an increased frequency of constipation and upper gastrointestinal complaints was noted in the chronic population. Symptomatic cure was obtained in 71% of chronic cases and 93% of acute. Palliative results were noted in 18% of chronic cases and 4% of acute. We conclude that giardiasis is frequently a chronic disease in our population with symptoms lasting years. The incidence is similar in both sexes and a history of foreign travel is often absent. A disproportionate incidence in male homosexuals was not noted in our study.
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PMID:Giardiasis as a chronic disease. 257 21

Giardia intestinalis is a non-invasive protozoan parasite infecting the upper small intestine causing acute, watery diarrhea or giardiasis in 280 million people annually. Asymptomatic infections are equally common and recent data have suggested that infections even can be protective against other diarrheal diseases. Most symptomatic infections resolve spontaneously but infections can lead to chronic disease and treatment failures are becoming more common world-wide. Giardia infections can also result in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and food allergies after resolution. Until recently not much was known about the mechanism of giardiasis or the cause of post-giardiasis syndromes and treatment failures, but here we will describe the recent progress in these areas.
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PMID:An up-date on Giardia and giardiasis. 2750 61