giardiasis

Infection with the protozoan parasite Giardia; Giardia lamblia may cause diarrhea, dyspepsia, and occasionally malabsorption in humans. SYN: lambliasis.

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giar·di·a·sis (.)jē-.är-'dī-ə-səs, .jē-ər-, jär- n, pl -a·ses -.sēz infestation with or disease caused by a flagellate protozoan of the genus Giardia (esp. G. lamblia) that is often characterized by diarrhea called also lambliasis

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(lambliasis)

n.

a disease caused by the parasitic protozoan Giardia lamblia in the small intestine. Individuals become infected by eating food contaminated with cysts containing the parasite. Symptoms include diarrhoea, nausea, bellyache, and flatulence, as well as the passage of pale fatty stools (steatorrhoea). Large numbers of the parasite may interfere with the absorption of food through the gut wall. The disease occurs throughout the world and is particularly common in children; it responds well to oral doses of metronidazole.

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gi·ar·di·a·sis (je″ahr-diґə-sis) 1. a common infection of the human small intestine with the protozoan Giardia lamblia, spread via contaminated food or water or by direct person-to-person contact. Most patients are asymptomatic, but a few have symptoms ranging from nonspecific gastrointestinal discomfort to mild or profuse diarrhea, nausea, lassitude, anorexia, and weight loss. 2. infection of a dog or cat with Giardia lamblia, characterized by copious diarrhea and anorexia; it may be persistent or self-limiting.