Important points of giardiasis - how giardia is transmitted from person to person. How does Giardia infection occur in children?

Giardia of a mobile type, pear-shaped, 0.5 mm in size, enters the child's body. With the help of a special sucker and flagella, they are attached to the villi of the small intestine, where they multiply intensively. These simple creatures do not have a mouth, so they absorb nutrients with their entire surface.

Cysts are quite tenacious. At a temperature of +18° they can remain viable for up to 40 days. Sun exposure doesn't kill them. They tolerate cooling down to -13 °. However, upon further freezing, they die. Giardia cannot stand temperatures above +70°C. At this temperature, they die after 5 minutes, while boiling - instantly. Giardia also cannot exist in chlorinated water.

How dangerous is giardiasis for a child

Giardia disrupt the absorption of nutrients in the intestines of the child, which leads to a lack of essential minerals and vitamins in his body. Signs of vitamin deficiency are poor development, physical weakness, and a decrease in the body's defenses.

Giardiasis weakens the body, so its defense against other infections is reduced. There are colds, which often lead to pneumonia, bronchitis. There is a persistent cough. Bronchial asthma may occur.

Sources and ways of infection with giardiasis

Giardia live:

  • in reservoirs where sewage may enter;
  • in the sand with which children play on playgrounds (it is especially dangerous to get there the excrement of cats, dogs, rodents);
  • in poorly purified tap water;
  • unwashed fruits and vegetables;
  • toys, household items used by a child infected with giardiasis.

Possible ways of infection are conventionally divided into water, food and contact. By water, Giardia enters the child's body if he is allowed to drink water directly from the tap. Due to poor purification, such water is unsafe. In addition, you can get infected while swimming in a pond, lake, river, if the water is polluted by sewage or livestock enters it.

Note: Giardia does not live in salt water, therefore, while swimming in the sea, a child cannot become infected with giardiasis.

Warning: If a child has Giardia, there is an increased risk of transmission of the infection to the rest of the family. In kindergarten or school, children can get infected from each other. The main measure for the prevention of giardiasis is the observance of the rules of personal hygiene.

Video: How children become infected with Giardia

Symptoms of giardiasis

This disease can exist both in an acute form and in a chronic one.

acute form occurs when a large number of cysts enter the body at once. At the same time, the baby's health deteriorates sharply. Appear nausea, vomiting, intestinal upset, pain in the navel and hypochondrium, bloating, allergic rash. Body temperature rises to 39 ° C, chills appear.

If you find the cause of the ailment quickly and treat it, then after 5-7 days the symptoms disappear completely. If the treatment is late, then the disease becomes chronic, periodically exacerbated by colds, stressful situations, malnutrition (reduction in the diet of proteins, switching to carbohydrate-containing foods).

Chronic form giardiasis leads to indigestion (dyspepsia), in which diarrhea and constipation alternate, poor appetite, bouts of nausea and vomiting, dizziness, headache, irritability. All these are signs of intoxication of the body. In addition, the following symptoms appear:

  • yellow coating on the tongue;
  • pallor of the face (especially the nose), seizures in the corners of the lips, dry skin;
  • periodic causeless increase in temperature up to 38 °;
  • allergic reactions (dry cough, conjunctivitis, bronchial asthma);
  • fatigue, absent-mindedness, apathy;
  • swollen lymph nodes;
  • liver enlargement.

In a child infected with Giardia, the symptoms appear brighter than in adults.

Signs that a child should be taken to the doctor

If a child has a poor appetite, chronic diarrhea, he complains of nausea, often has a fever, constantly coughs, then he should be taken to a doctor, have a fecal analysis for giardiasis, and undergo treatment. Accompanying signs are the appearance of atopic dermatitis, reddening of the skin around the lips with a general pallor of the face, the appearance of cracks on the lips.

With giardiasis, there is a characteristic uneven coloration of the skin on the neck, peeling of the skin on the palms and soles. The child's hair begins to fall out, their color becomes uneven, "goosebumps" appear on the hands. Adolescents may experience a nervous tic, and often there is an uneven heartbeat, high blood pressure, dizziness.

Diagnostic methods

If Giardia is present in the feces (in the form of cysts), then they can be visually detected using a microscope. According to the color and consistency of the studied mass, the state of the child's digestive system and its metabolism are assessed. The analysis has to be done repeatedly (3 days in a row, after 10-12 days - again), since cysts are not always present in the intestine.

Carrying out this analysis is hampered by the fact that when the feces dry out, the cysts die. If the child has diarrhea, then mobile Giardia may be present in the test material, which die outside the intestine after half an hour. The analysis must be carried out immediately after emptying, which is not always feasible.

Duodenal method for the study of bile. In the intestines, cysts are not always found, but in the bile of an infected child, Giardia is present in a vegetative form. Such a survey is the most effective. However, to carry out the analysis, it is necessary to take bile from the duodenum using a special rubber probe. For young children, this procedure is not feasible. Therefore, this method of examination is used only after 10 years, if there are diseases of the liver, gallbladder.

Enterotest. Allows you to take cysts from the intestines using a nylon thread. The thread is placed in a gelatin capsule, which dissolves in the intestine. The thread is released, cysts stick to it. After 2 hours, the feces come out with the thread, after which it is examined under a microscope. The method is simple, used for children of any age.

General blood analysis on leukocytes, platelets, coagulability. This analysis can detect a decrease in hemoglobin levels, the presence of inflammatory processes in the intestines, lungs or other organs.

ultrasound the abdominal cavity and the pelvic area is carried out to study the state of the liver, biliary system, intestines.

Treatment of giardiasis

It is desirable to start treatment during the period of exacerbation in order to control the changes taking place in the body and the effectiveness of the drugs. For treatment, the following drugs are used:

At the end of treatment and the complete disappearance of the rash, cough, abdominal pain and other symptoms of giardiasis, an examination is again carried out. Treatment is given to prevent re-infection.

Some experts (for example, the well-known pediatrician E. Komarovsky) believe that if the child does not have signs of serious health problems, giardiasis is expressed only in the presence of an intestinal disorder, then it is not necessary to treat Giardia. He emphasizes that giardiasis is observed in 30% of the inhabitants of the Earth, without causing much trouble. Examination in children's institutions should be carried out during an outbreak of intestinal diseases. He cites the opinion of American doctors who suggest not treating babies for giardiasis if they are only its carriers, since this does not affect the overall incidence in the children's team.

Parents should take care of strengthening the body's resistance of babies and proper nutrition, as well as teach them to thoroughly wash vegetables and fruits, hands after coming from the street, going to the toilet, playing with domestic dogs and cats. Children must be weaned from the bad habit of biting their nails, pulling pencils and toys into their mouths.

The value of the diet to eliminate giardiasis

Giardia do not tolerate an acidic environment, but reproduce well in the presence of carbohydrates and sugar. In the treatment of giardiasis, the child is prescribed a diet. It is preferable to feed him with lactic acid products. You should not give your child sweets, as well as put sugar in cocoa or tea. From the children's diet, you need to remove all foods with a high content of carbohydrates, such as sausages and sausages, bakery products, pasta, whole milk, for the duration of treatment.

When preparing meals, products must be well fried or cooked. Food greens, fruits and vegetables should be thoroughly washed with warm water. For drinking, use store-bought bottled water.

Folk methods of treating giardiasis

As an additional treatment for children with giardiasis, folk remedies are used. Before using them, it is necessary to consult a doctor, since the body of each child individually reacts to herbal treatment. Allergies, exacerbation of diseases of the stomach or kidneys may occur.

Giardia die in a salty environment. Therefore, children suffering from infection with giardiasis can be given cucumber pickle to drink.

Decoctions of plants such as celandine and dandelion are used. A well-known remedy is a decoction of aspen bark and buds, bergamot oil (it is dripped onto a piece of sugar, which is allowed to be eaten by a child).


Protozoal invasion caused by intestinal Giardia and proceeding with signs of functional indigestion. Leading in the clinic of giardiasis is the gastrointestinal syndrome (nausea, abdominal pain, unstable stool, flatulence); intoxication, allergic, astheno-neurotic, hepatolienal syndromes can also develop. For laboratory confirmation of giardiasis, microscopic examination of feces and duodenal contents, ELISA, PCR, and analysis of biopsy material are performed. For the purpose of specific therapy for giardiasis, antiprotozoal drugs (metronidazole, tinidazole, ornidazole, etc.) are prescribed; additionally - choleretic drugs, enzymes, enterosorbents.

General information

Causes of giardiasis

The source of the spread of giardiasis pathogens is an infested person who excretes mature cysts of giardia with feces into the environment. The epidemiological role of animals that are carriers of Giardia (dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, etc.) is not excluded. Mechanical carriers of pathogens can be flies, cockroaches and other insects. Infection with giardiasis occurs by the fecal-oral mechanism; water, food, contact-household ways. The leading factors of infection transmission are unboiled water, food, hands, common items, soil contaminated with Giardia cysts. Invasion of the population with giardiasis is facilitated by fecal pollution of the environment, poor water supply, crowding of people, and a low level of sanitary and hygienic skills of the population. Predisposing factors are age up to 10 years, malnutrition and dystrophy, congenital anomalies of the biliary tract, gastrointestinal diseases with a decrease in acidity and enzymatic activity, resection of the stomach, protein starvation, etc. A surge in the incidence of giardiasis is recorded in the spring-summer season.

Pathogenesis

Once in the digestive tract, Giardia cysts reach the duodenum, where they turn into vegetative forms. Here, as well as in the proximal jejunum, Giardia attaches to the villi of the epithelium, causing mechanical damage to enterocytes, irritation of the nerve endings of the small intestine wall, and a violation of the absorption process. The consequence of these processes is the development of inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract (duodenitis, enteritis), malabsorption syndrome, secondary fermentopathy, dysbacteriosis, chronic endogenous intoxication syndrome. Giardiasis can contribute to the chronicity of helminthiases and other intestinal infections (salmonellosis, dysentery, yersiniosis). It has been proven that in the process of life Giardia secrete a toxin that has a tropism for the nervous tissue, which explains the inhibitory effect on the nervous system. Due to the sensitization of the body by protozoal antigens, various allergic manifestations can develop in giardiasis, especially characteristic of children with lymphatic-hypoplastic diathesis.

Classification

Giardiasis can occur in the form of asymptomatic giardia carriers (25%), subclinical (50%) and manifest forms (25%). Depending on the leading clinical manifestations of overt giardiasis, there are:

  • intestinal form including functional bowel disorder, duodenitis, duodeno-gastric reflux, gastroenteritis, enteritis;
  • biliary-pancreatic form flowing with symptoms of biliary dyskinesia, cholangitis, cholecystitis, reactive pancreatitis;
  • extraintestinal form accompanied by astheno-neurotic syndrome, neurocirculatory dystonia, toxic-allergic manifestations;
  • mixed Thomas.

Clinically pronounced giardiasis can have an acute and chronic course.

Symptoms of giardiasis

The syndrome of intoxication in giardiasis directly depends on the massiveness of the invasion, the duration and severity of the course of the disease. It can be manifested by peripheral lymphadenitis, enlarged adenoids, subfebrile condition. Signs of CNS depression in giardiasis are irritability, fatigue, decreased performance, emotional lability, bruxism. Children may develop tics, hyperkinesis, hypotonic crises and fainting. Dermatoallergic manifestations include dryness and peeling of the skin, follicular keratosis, urticaria with pruritus, atopic dermatitis, etc. Patients with giardiasis often suffer from persistent blepharitis and conjunctivitis, cheilitis; asthmatic bronchitis and bronchial asthma.

Diagnosis of giardiasis

Clinical recognition of giardiasis is difficult due to the wide variety and non-specificity of symptoms. Clinical manifestations of giardiasis are often explained by other causes, and patients are treated by a gastroenterologist, neurologist, allergist, pulmonologist, dermatologist for individual syndromes.

An objective examination of patients with giardiasis reveals pallor of the skin, furry tongue, bloating, liver enlargement, pain in the mesogastrium. With the help of ultrasound of the hepatobiliary system and cholecystography, biliary dyskinesias with signs of cholestasis are detected. Changes in the hemogram are represented by eosinophilia, monocytosis. In the biochemical blood test, hypogammaglobulinemia, hypoalbuminemia, and an increase in the level of alkaline phosphatase are detected. A study of feces for dysbacteriosis reveals a change in the intestinal microflora: a decrease in the number of lacto- and bifidobacteria, the appearance of pathogenic microorganisms (staphylococci and streptococci, Candida fungi, etc.).

Treatment of giardiasis

The preparatory stage includes a rational diet therapy aimed at creating unfavorable conditions for the reproduction of lamblia in the body. Such a diet involves the use of cereals, bran, vegetables and fruits, vegetable oil; restriction of carbohydrates, mainly sugars. It is useful to carry out unloading days; tubages with mineral water, xylitol, sorbitol; taking choleretic and antihistamine drugs.

The drug stage of treatment of giardiasis is carried out with special antiprotozoal drugs (metronidazole, tinidazole, ornidazole, nimorazole, albendazole, furazolidone, etc.) and usually consists of 2 courses. At the final, recovery stage, multivitamin preparations, enterosorbents, bacterial and enzymatic preparations, herbal adaptogens, immunostimulants, herbal medicine are prescribed.

- a well-known parasitic disease in which the small intestine of a person is mainly affected. Many often confuse Giardia with parasitic worms - helminths. Yes, both of them are parasites, living at the expense of their master - a man. The difference lies in the fact that Giardia is the simplest smallest creatures, consisting of only one cell, but at the same time functioning as a single integral microorganism.

Giardia - their anatomy and physiology

Giardia exist in two forms, which, in the course of their life, pass one into the other.

cysts- formations of a rounded shape, slightly less trophozoites. The cyst is a protective shell under which a young, not yet fully formed trophozoid is reliably preserved from adverse environmental factors.

There is a vicious circle on the face, which will not end until the elementary rules of hygiene are observed and appropriate adequate treatment is adopted. The spread of giardiasis is more often observed in children of primary school age, especially those who live in private homes with a toilet outside. But do not think that giardiasis occurs only in children. Any person is susceptible to the disease, regardless of how strong his immune system is.

Symptoms of giardiasis

Being localized in the small intestine, most of the symptoms of the disease are associated with the gastrointestinal tract. There are also extraintestinal symptoms associated with allergic disorders and neuropsychiatric disorders.

Allergic manifestations can be:

  • Pitted rashes on the skin.
  • Itching in the area of ​​the eruption, in the nose and about the anus.
  • Respiratory disorders in the form of bronchial asthma, rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal mucosa).
  • Conjunctivitis - inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes.

Diagnosis of giardiasis

To make a diagnosis, several methods are used, the main of which is the detection of Giardia cysts in the patient's feces, in the contents of the duodenum, or when taking a piece of tissue from the small intestine (biopsy).

To exclude the diagnosis of giardiasis in the chronic course of the disease, repeated stool tests are taken at intervals of seven days for four to five weeks. The contents of the feces are subjected to microscopy; in some cases, trophozoids can also be detected.

In addition, the effectiveness of treatment depends in conjunction with a number of measures, the observance of which entirely depends on the success of the treatment. These measures include primarily drug therapy, hygiene measures, and diet, depending on the changes that have occurred in the gastrointestinal tract.

Medical therapy

Metronidazole (trichopolum)- is rightfully considered the drug of choice in the treatment of giardiasis. The mechanism of action is associated with the inhibition of the vital activity of not only lamblia, but also most of the simplest microorganisms. It also affects some types of pathogenic bacteria often associated with various inflammatory processes. It has an anti-inflammatory effect, thereby improving the general condition and accelerating the healing process.
The recommended dose is 5 mg/kg of body weight per day.

The dosage regimen is three doses of the drug per day. The duration of treatment varies within 7 - 10 days.

Tinidazole (fazygin) And Ornidazole (Tibiral) taken in a single dose of 5 mg / kg.

Furazolidone- a drug with antiseptic and antimicrobial properties.

Application. Furazolidone is taken as a suspension at a dose of 2 mg/kg per day. The frequency of admission is 4 times a day. The course of treatment is carried out within 7 - 10 days.

By following all the above measures, you will always feel safe and confident in your own health.

Why are children more likely to get giardiasis?

A child of any age, even a newborn, is not immune from infection with Giardia.

However, most often giardiasis occurs in preschool children: according to statistics, about 30-50% of children attending preschool institutions are infected with giardia, since there is a large crowding in children's groups, and the risk of infection increases significantly. Whereas among "home children" this figure is two times less.

The susceptibility of children to Giardia is associated with two factors:

At asymptomatic form in sick children there are no manifestations of the disease, and lamblia are detected by chance during the examination.

Acute giardiasis

It develops in about 50% of children infected with Giardia. The first symptoms of the disease occur 7-21 days after infection.

However, if the disease still develops, then pronounced disorders of the gastrointestinal tract come to the fore: profuse loose stools, nausea and vomiting, bloating, refusal to eat or decreased appetite. There is also a seemingly unreasonable anxiety and a periodic increase in body temperature up to 37-38°C.

In the future, children lag behind in physical development, poorly gaining weight, which is caused by impaired digestion and absorption of nutrients.

How does giardiasis occur in pregnant women?

At acute form diseases there are signs of gastroenteritis - an inflammatory disease of the stomach and intestines. There is a frequent loose copious stool with an unpleasant odor, but not containing impurities (mucus, blood). There is bloating and pain in the abdomen, appetite decreases, nausea and vomiting occur. Sometimes the body temperature rises to 38-38.5 ° C, a small punctate rash appears on the body.

At chronic form diseases, the expectant mother is worried about constant bloating, unstable stools (constipation alternates with diarrhea), abdominal pain, severe weakness, dizziness and headaches, nausea, allergic reactions (food allergies, skin rashes, and others).

However, the disease can be asymptomatic or the expectant mother regards its signs as manifestations of toxicosis. Therefore, do not go to the doctor in a timely manner.

Why is giardiasis dangerous during pregnancy?

Giardia itself is not able to cross the placenta and infect the fetus, however, the disease adversely affects the course of pregnancy and the condition of the fetus. Since the waste products of Giardia and the decay of dead individuals enter the bloodstream, worsening the mother's well-being and increasing the manifestations of toxicosis.

Besides, the fetus is not getting enough nutrients due to the fact that digestion is disturbed, as well as the absorption of vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

Giardiasis can lead to the development of one of the formidable complications of pregnancy: chronic placental insufficiency. Therefore, the functions of the placenta are violated: the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to the fetus, the production of hormones, the excretion of waste products of the fetus, protection from the penetration of toxins and infections from the mother's body to the fetus.

When placental insufficiency develops early in pregnancy (before 16 weeks), there is a high chance of miscarriage.

If the condition occurs in the later stages (after 16 weeks), the normal development of the fetus is often disrupted. As a result, a child may be born with intrauterine growth retardation (low weight and/or height), with immature organs and systems. There is also a high risk of preterm birth.

However, if changes in the placenta are unexpressed, then compensatory mechanisms work, so a full-term and healthy baby is born.

What are the skin rashes with giardiasis (photo)?

The most pronounced changes in the skin, when the allergic component prevails during the course of the disease.

Also, bright skin manifestations are present in patients who, before infection, already suffered from allergic diseases (for example, bronchial asthma). Moreover, the nature and abundance of rashes depend more on the initial state of the patient's immune system than on the number of lamblia in the body.

Hives manifested by bubbles filled with a clear liquid, which in some cases merge with each other. After some time, during treatment, they disappear, but reappear when exposed to a provoking factor - food, pollen, and others.

Baby pruritus or strufulus- a type of urticaria with severe itching that develops in children from six months to three to five years. Initially, vesicles filled with a clear liquid appear on the skin. After a short period of time, they thicken, turning into pink-brown nodules, on top of which there are small bubbles.

Most often, rashes are located in large folds of the skin (under the armpits, in the perineum), but can also spread to the trunk.

Children's prurigo is persistent, therefore, it persists even after the cessation of exposure to the allergen. However, in most cases, it disappears without a trace when the child reaches three to five years.

Eczema is an allergic skin lesion in the form of weeping small vesicles that occur against the background of reddened and edematous skin. Bubbles most often occur symmetrically, simultaneously on both sides of the body, and tend to cluster. "Favorite" places of eczema are the skin of the neck and face. However, they can appear anywhere on the body.

After opening, crusts and scales form in place of the bubbles, which do not have clear boundaries. If this process becomes prolonged, the skin thickens and thickens at the site of the rash.

Rashes are accompanied by severe itching and burning at all stages of their development.

Neurodermatitis manifested by symmetrical skin rashes, which can be located in the inguinal and axillary folds, elbow and popliteal folds, on the face, neck and limbs, scalp.

By the nature of the rash with neurodermatitis, they undergo changes in their development. Initially, nodules or seals of a pale pink color with severe itching appear on the skin. Then they grow and merge into large foci, on the surface of which scales and crusts form.

Severe excruciating skin itching- the result of a violation of the binding of bile acids. Itching may appear without any rash on the skin, but if it persists for a long time, there are traces of scratching on the skin.

How is giardiasis treated in children (scheme)?

There is no single approach and standard for the treatment of giardiasis due to some circumstances:
  • Many drugs have side effects that are undesirable for a growing body.
  • It is possible that the general condition of the child worsens due to increased symptoms of the disease on the second or third day from the start of treatment: nausea, allergic manifestations, and others. This reaction occurs due to the massive death of lamblia and the formation of toxins.
  • Giardia has developed resistance to the most commonly used drugs in the past.
  • Sometimes there is a joint infection with bacteria or fungi (Candida, Helicobacter pylori and others), which often requires additional prescription of drugs.
  • After successful treatment of giardiasis, unstable immunity is developed, so re-infection is possible.
There are two approaches to the treatment of giardiasis:

Designed to increase the effectiveness of the drugs used and reduce the severity of symptoms of exacerbation of giardiasis.

The first stage is preparatory

Goals: normalization of the gastrointestinal tract and the creation of conditions for reducing the number of lamblia in the body.

Used drugs

1. Enterosorbents: Smecta, Enterosgel, Laktofiltrum and others.

They do not directly affect Giardia, but create unfavorable conditions for their growth and reproduction.

Operating principle: binding, as well as the removal of toxins, bacteria and various substances (bilirubin, cholesterol, allergens and others) from the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, some enterosorbents create conditions for the reproduction of beneficial flora in the intestine (bifidus and lactobacilli).

2. Medicines containing lactulose(Duphalac) are prescribed in the presence of constipation.

The second stage - the destruction of lamblia

It is carried out in two courses of antigiardia drugs of different groups with an interval between them of one week.

Used medicines

The choice of anti-lamblia drug

For the first course depending on the age of the child, it is recommended to use Ornidazole or Tinidazole, for the second- Macmirror or Albendazole.

In parallel with antigiardia treatment, drugs are used:

  • To reduce allergic manifestations children are advised to prescribe desensitizing drugs. For example, starting from six months - Zyrtec (Cetirizine), over 12 years old - Telfast.
  • To improve the tolerability of treatment, it is advisable to use Wobenzym- a drug that has an immunomodulatory, enzymatic, anti-inflammatory and anti-edematous effect.

The third stage is the final

Medicines are prescribed for restoration of normal intestinal microflora: Enterol, Lactobacterin, Probifor and others.

With the aim of replenishment of the body with vitamins and trace elements complex preparations are used: Stimbifid, Alphabet, Vitrum and others.

To improve the functioning of the immune system sometimes immunostimulants are prescribed: Polyoxidonium, Likopid and others. However, if possible, it is better to establish a balanced diet, and not to use synthetic drugs.

Attention ! All medicines for the treatment of giardiasis are prescribed only by a doctor, taking into account the age and weight of the child, as well as the course of the disease.

How is giardiasis treated in pregnant women?

With an asymptomatic course of the disease, the well-being of the expectant mother and the development of the fetus, it is recommended to refrain from treating giardiasis during pregnancy.

In other cases, the decision to use drugs to combat Giardia taken individually, since traditional medicines (Tinidazole, Macmirror and others) are contraindicated for appointment in the first three months of pregnancy.

However, there is a drug that can be used regardless of the gestational age: Enterofuril. Since, as a result of the studies, its negative impact on the fetus was not revealed.

In addition, at Enterofuril has two advantages:

  • It is not absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, minimizing the risk of developing allergic reactions.
  • Does not disturb the normal intestinal microflora.
However, in the early stages of pregnancy (up to 12 weeks), Enterofuril is recommended to be administered with caution: when the expected benefit to the mother outweighs the risk of negative effects on the fetus.

What is the treatment of giardiasis folk remedies?

Medications are not always 100% effective against Giardia. Therefore, sometimes, in order to achieve better treatment results, it is advisable to combine pharmaceutical preparations with folk remedies, the action of which is based on anthelmintic properties.

Recipe number 1: Horseradish tincture

Take one kilogram of unpeeled horseradish root and pass through a meat grinder. Place the resulting mass in a three-liter jar and fill to the top with boiled cooled water. Then put the jar in the refrigerator for three days, then strain and squeeze the raw materials. The resulting infusion should be stored in the refrigerator.

Accept one tablespoon three times a day before meals. The course of treatment is 4-5 weeks.

Recipe number 2: Honey-plantain mixture

It is necessary to collect plantain leaves at the time of flowering. Then rinse and scroll in a meat grinder. The resulting raw materials are mixed with honey in a ratio of 1: 1 and stored in the refrigerator.

Accept one tablespoon three times a day 30 minutes before meals. The course of treatment is 30 days.

Recipe #3: Flax and Clove Seed Mix

Pass the dried Chinese clove buds and flax seeds separately through a coffee grinder. Then mix in a ratio of 10 parts flax seeds: 1 part clove buds.

Accept 25 grams daily, if the patient's weight is about 70-75 kg. If the patient weighs less or more, then divide this figure by three. The resulting figure indicates the number of grams that must be taken daily.

The product can be added to food or consumed in its pure form, washed down with water. The course of treatment is 30 days.

What are the consequences of giardiasis?

They are most pronounced in children than in adults, since they have imperfect compensatory mechanisms.

Gets hit the immune system, since lamblia suppress her work, making her weak. Therefore, the patient is more likely to suffer from viral and bacterial infections.

Often develop diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: biliary dyskinesia, pancreatitis, chronic gastritis (inflammation of the gastric mucosa) or gastroduodenitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach and duodenum). Moreover, after the removal of Giardia from the body, recovery does not always occur, therefore, the developed ailments become chronic.

Asymptomatic giardiasis does not cause complaints and is called carriage. It is treated only when its presence has led to the infection and illness of other people. Acute giardiasis manifests itself as an intestinal infection. After the introduction of Giardia into the body, watery diarrhea appears. It may be accompanied by pain, bloating, and a feeling of fullness.

In the absence of proper treatment, the disease becomes subacute or chronic. The causative agent can rise into the gallbladder and settle there. At the same time, the above complaints appear from time to time or constantly, but not with such pronounced intensity.

Intestinal manifestations of the disease may be accompanied by complaints from the skin of an allergic nature (urticaria, dermatitis, etc.). Patients may complain of fatigue, weakness, insomnia and irritability. These symptoms are typical for the elderly and children.

How does infection occur?

The fecal-oral route of infection involves the transmission of the pathogen through products containing Giardia, water and household items. Children get sick more often. This is due to the child's low level of hygiene skills. The frequency of diseases in children is affected by their not always controlled possibility of contact with sick animals. Giardia sources can be mouse-like rodents, cats, dogs, etc.

In adults, the prevalence of giardiasis is lower. Washing hands before meals and after going to the toilet is an effective preventive measure. This reduces the risk of infection with Giardia even in contact with the patient. There are outbreaks of giardiasis. At the same time, the frequency of the disease by sex and age does not differ. The main areas of distribution of the pathogen are Russia, Africa, America (South and North) and Asia.

How to identify giardiasis?

The diagnosis can be made after a comprehensive examination. Clinical manifestations of the disease must be confirmed by laboratory data. In the study, both the pathogen itself (direct methods for examining feces and bile) and the immunoglobulins that the body synthesizes in response to the introduction of a foreign agent (indirect methods for testing blood) can be detected. Without laboratory data, giardiasis cannot be diagnosed.

Treatment of giardiasis folk remedies

Giardiasis is widely treated not only by traditional medicine. It has been cured by folk methods for more than one century. You can get rid of Giardia using various recipes. Most often they use herbs and food. Alcohol tinctures are not recommended for use in children.

Folk remedies for Giardia can be combined with traditional treatment, after agreeing it with your doctor. The following recipes are most often used.

  • Green walnut tincture. For a liter of vodka, you need to take about a hundred chopped green walnuts. Infuse for 14 days at room temperature, then strain thoroughly. Store the tincture in a dark place. This requires a container with a tight-fitting lid. Taken 1 teaspoon before meals.
  • Aspen decoction. Combine a tablespoon of chopped bark or aspen leaves with a glass of boiling water. Boil in an enamel or glass bowl over low heat for about an hour. After straining, cool and refrigerate. Take three times a day for a tablespoon.
  • Infusion of birch buds. About 5 g of birch buds are taken for 1 glass of water. You need to boil them for about 15 - 20 minutes. After that, remove from the stove and let it brew for 60 minutes. Take on an empty stomach 4 times a day. The duration of therapy is 10 days. After a ten-day break, you should repeat the use of the infusion. Reception for 10 days to repeat three times. Always at intervals of 10 days.
  • Infusion of birch leaves. Based on 1 cup of boiling water, add 20 g of birch leaves. Insist 5 hours. Use on an empty stomach 2 times a day for 0.5 tbsp. spoons. Take three courses of 10 days with a ten-day break.
  • Tincture of garlic. Peel the cloves (250 g) and grind to a mushy state. Pour cold vodka (1 l). Pour into a glass container with a tight lid. Let it brew for 10 days in a cool dark place. After straining, store in the refrigerator. Take three times a day for 1 tbsp. spoon, previously diluted with water.

There are recipes that are suitable for small patients. They are not only healthy, but also sweet:

  • Honey plantain. Twist fresh, clean, dry plantain leaves in a meat grinder. Combine this gruel and honey in a ratio of 1: 1. Use 25-30 minutes before meals 3 times a day. The course of taking the funds is 30 - 40 days.
  • Fresh coconut meat. Divide the peeled coconut into 3 parts. On an empty stomach in the morning, grate 1/3 of the pulp on a grater with large holes and eat. In the next 4 hours, you must refrain from eating.

How to treat giardiasis, it is better to agree with your doctor. The deceptive impression of the simplicity of folk methods can eventually lead to complications and protracted expensive treatment.

Giardiasis is a protozoal invasion characterized by dysfunction of the small intestine or asymptomatic carriage of the pathogen.
The source of invasion is predominantly a person - a sick or giardia carrier.
Possessing the ability to stick to the mucous membrane of the intestinal wall and sometimes multiplying in very large quantities, they can cause irritation of the small intestines, accompanied by phenomena
Damage to the microvilli of the small intestine leads to violations of parietal digestion with the development of enzymatic and vitamin deficiency.

Etiology, pathogenesis.

The causative agent of giardiasis- intestinal flagellar protozoan - Lamblia intestinalis.
The terms are also used Giardia lamblia, Giardia intestinalis And Giardia duodenalis. Exists in the form of vegetative and cystic stages of development.
Giardia of the vegetative stage is pear-shaped, 8-18 microns long, 5-7 microns wide, has four pairs of flagella and a suction disk. In the external environment quickly dies.
Giardia cysts remain viable in moist feces, depending on the temperature, from a day to 3 weeks, and in clean water - up to 3 months. For a long time they survive on various foods, especially on wet ones. When dried, the cysts die immediately. In a humid environment, their pronounced resistance to the action of ultraviolet rays is observed.

Aqueous solutions of lysol and naphthalizole 5% concentration kill them in faeces after 30 minutes,

2% Lysol solution - within 1 hour. Food vinegar (9% acetic acid), even diluted with water, kills cysts within 5-10 minutes. They are resistant to chlorine - a 5% aqueous solution of chloramine does not have a detrimental effect on Giardia cysts. However, at a dose of active chlorine of 30 mg/l, 62% of Giardia cysts die after 3 hours.


Ways of penetration of Giardia into the body.

1. Water- you can become infected by drinking insufficiently purified tap water or water from open reservoirs; the water route of infection is considered to be predominant;
2. Contact household - pathogens accumulate on the surface of household items: dishes, linen, clothes, toys;
3. Food- sources of infection are a variety of food products, unwashed vegetables, fruits and berries, often food that has not undergone heat treatment;
4. Gate of infection- Upper small intestine.
The infectious dose is more than 100 lamblia cysts. Most of the infected do not show any symptoms. The vegetative form of Giardia can only exist on the surface of the mucous membrane of the upper small intestine. Giardia cannot exist in the bile ducts (bile kills them). They can cause changes in the mucous membrane at the site of attachment and have reflex effects.


The course of giardiasis.

Acute stage of lambl ioza .

Continues 5-7 days. More common in children.
In some patients, giardiasis can drag on for months and is accompanied by malnutrition, weight loss. In most cases, the manifestations of the disease disappear spontaneously within 1-4 weeks.

With the intestinal form of giardiasis for the acute stage diseases are characterized by pronounced dyspeptic and abdominal syndromes.
Patients complain of recurrent moderate pain in the right hypochondrium, around the navel and less often in the lower abdomen, belching, a feeling of fullness and a feeling of heaviness in the stomach, bloating and rumbling in the abdomen, decreased appetite.

In young children observed mushy stool repeatedly during the day, rarely
Older children and teenagers complain of general weakness, fatigue, irritability, headaches, dizziness, poor sleep, the appearance of tics, hyperkinesis in the form of bad habits. Often there are symptoms
Older children and adolescents experience short-term constipation

In a significant proportion of children appear infectious-allergic changes on the skin or manifestations of exudative-catarrhal diathesis.
Since these symptoms are also characteristic of other diseases, therefore, in general, the diagnosis of the acute stage of giardiasis is not made, and therefore doctors deal with the chronic stage of giardiasis in children.

Chronic giardiasis .

It is more common in adults and preschool children.
The disease can become chronic, occurring in the form of relapses: periodically there is bloating, pain in the epigastric region, sometimes liquefied stools.
Chronic forms of giardiasis are observed mainly in preschool children and adults. It is characterized by a relapsing course.

In young children prevails intestinal form giardiasis mainly with functional disorders like secretory-enzymatic, and evacuation-motor character.
In older children age and adolescents, especially against the background of an immunodeficiency state, along with the intestines, the hepatobiliary system and pancreas are affected.

Complications of giardiasis.

The most frequent complications giardiasis becomesand secondary intestinal fermentopathy.
With giardiasis, it changes dramatically intestinal microbiocenosis.
Microbes (usually staphylococcus) and fungi of the genus Candida appear in the duodenum and small intestine, which normally should not be in the intestine.
These microorganisms, in turn, stimulate the reproduction process of Giardia. In the distal intestines, the amount of beneficial intestinal microflora decreases. Secondary intestinal fermentopathy develops.

With reduced immunity of the body, Giardia multiplies rapidly and, as a result, significant changes in the small intestine occur.

In addition to general symptoms, giardiasis in adults is manifested by an increase in the liver, intestinal dysbiosis and abdominal pain on palpation in the right hypochondrium. There are also symptoms of giardiasis on the part of the skin: pallor of the skin, uneven coloration, dryness, atopic dermatitis, lesions of the border of the lips.

Diagnostics.
The diagnosis is made on the basis of the clinical picture and the results of a study of freshly excreted contents of the duodenum or loose stools (vegetative forms) or the detection of cysts (in a decorated stool). Microscopic examination of native and stained with Lugol's solution smears from freshly isolated feces is carried out. It is possible to combine the carriage of lamblia with some other disease.

Recently, laboratory confirmation of giardiasis has been used immunological research methods based on the detection of pathogen AG in faeces or specific AT in blood serum. Usage PCR for the detection of Giardia DNA in biological substrates is a highly effective diagnostic method, but is mainly used to determine antibodies to Giardia.


TREATMENT OF GIAMBLIOSIS.

Start treatment immediately with an anti-giardia drug inappropriate since this can lead to severe toxic-allergic reactions and exacerbations of the giardiasis clinic. Before applying antiprotozoal treatment, preparation of the body is necessary.

1st stage -- elimination of endotoxicosis and at improvement of intestinal enzymatic activity , increasing the body's defenses. The duration of this stage is 2-4 weeks.

Appoint:

  • Cholagogue preparations, since they, reducing the stagnation of bile in the affected gallbladder, contribute to the more rapid elimination of inflammatory changes in it.
    cholekinetics --- these drugs cause an increase gallbladder tone and reduce the tone of the biliary tract: 5% or 10% solutions of magnesium sulfate, egg yolks, sorbitol, xylitol, mannitol.
  • Cholespasmolytics -- cause relaxation of the bile ducts: n o-shpa, duspatalin, platifillin, belladonna dry extract, common barberry preparations, eufillin, metacin, etc.
  • The biliary tract, gallbladder and intestines are cleansed usingtubage according to G.S. Demyanov in children of early and older age and three-, five-fold drainage in adolescents with an interval of two days.
  • Enterosorbents -polyphepan (polyfan), smecta, reaban, polysorb MP, bilignin, etc.
  • Enzymes (according to the results of the coprogram) - festal, enzistal, mezim-forte, pancreatin (creon), bactisuptil, hilak-forte.

From antiprotozoal drugs most effective:

  • Metronidazole ( tr ihopol, flagil). Metronidazole is prescribed 0.25 g 3 times a day for 7 days or 0.8 g 3 times a day for 3 days, and for children - at the rate of 15 mg per 1 kg of body weight per day (the maximum daily dose for children under 10 years old is 300 mg).
  • Tinidazole 2.0 g once. For the treatment of children under the age of 5 years, tinidazole is not recommended.
  • Furozolidone 0.1 g 4 times a day for 5 days. children - at the rate of 10 mg / kg of body weight; the daily dose is given in 3-4 doses, the course is 7 days.
  • Macmirror (pifuratel) - a drug of the nitrofuran series, available in tablets of 200 mg, excreted from the body mainly by the kidneys. Adults are prescribed 400 mg 2-3 times a day for 7 days, children - 30 mg / kg of body weight for 2 doses per day for 5-7 days.
  • Ornidazole (tiberal) - a drug similar to metronidazole. Its high concentration in blood plasma is created within 1-2 hours after oral administration. Adults and children weighing more than 35 kg are given 3 tablets once in the evening. For children weighing up to 35 kg, the drug is prescribed at the rate of 40 mg / kg of body weight once.
  • Chloroquine (delagil) - available in tablets of 0.26 g and ampoules of 5 ml of a 5% solution. The drug has a pronounced anti-inflammatory and desensitizing effect. Adults appoint 0.25 g 3 times for 5-6 days.
  • Paromomycin - an antibiotic of the aminoglycoside class, which is proposed for the treatment of pregnant women orally at a dose of 25-30 mg / kg of body weight daily in 3 doses for 5-10 days.

After 7-10 days, the 2nd course of antigiardia therapy should be repeated.
In advanced cases, the 3rd course of treatment is also possible, also after a 7-10 day break.
To achieve the greatest effect, each of the courses can be carried out with different drugs.

3rd stage - increase the body's defenses and creating conditions that prevent the reproduction of lamblia in the intestines and gallbladder.
At stage III, great importance give the mode and nature of nutrition.

  • To improve intestinal motility, beetroot, pumpkin, squash or carrot puree, boiled dried fruit puree (prunes, dried apricots), compote apples, baked apples, biokefir, bifidok, yogurt, fermented baked milk, ripe tomatoes, berries and fruits are prescribed.
  • In order to create an environment conducive to the destruction of lamblia cysts, it is recommended to takedecoction of birch buds within 2-3 weeks.
    After a two-week break, the reception is carried out for two weeks decoction of bearberry seeds.
  • In order to eliminate dysbacteriosis and secondary intestinal fermentopathy, the following are used:
    bacterial preparations (bifidumbacterin, bifikol, colibacterin, lactobacterin, acidophilus),
    enzyme preparations(hilak-forte, festal, enzistal, mezim-forte, pancreatin (creon).

Relapses can be observed after 7 weeks. after the end of treatment. This necessitates long-term monitoring of the results of therapy. The prognosis is favorable.

Prevention.
Food and water control. Disinfection of water is best done by boiling. Food workers and persons, as well as children's institutions, are examined for infestation with Giardia. Carry out the treatment of persons infested with lamblia.