Regarding Giardiasis, all of the following options are true except
Diarrhea with steatosis
Bloody diarrhea
Metronidazole is the drug of choice
Absence of fever
Ans. is 'b' i.e., Bloody diarrhea Giardiasis o Most of the infected patients are asymptomatic. o Giardia causes diarrhea arid malabsorption. Malabsorption is due to loss of brush border enzyme activities, which cause fat malabsorption (steatorrhea) and vitamin deficiency, o There may be abdominal pain, bloating, nausea & vomiting, flatulence and flatus. o The mechanisms by which Giardia causes an alteration in small bowel function are largely unknown. Although trophozoites adhere to the epithelium, they do not cause invasive or locally destructive alterations. o Fever; the presence of blood or mucus in the stools suggest a different diagnosis as all these are absent in giardiasis. o Giardia may also cause traveler's diarrhea. o Predisposing conditions to giardiasis are agammaglobulinemia, common variable immunodeficiency, and selective IgA-deficiency. Diagnosis and treatment o The gold - standard for diagnosis of giardiasis is the microscopic demonstration of the trophozoite, cyst or both in feces. o Duodenal aspirate or jejunal biopsy may be required for diagnosis. o In acute giardiasis trophozoites show the typical ''falling-leaf' motility in wet mount examination of feces, o Metronidazole and tinidazole are the drug of choice for Giardia lamblia.