Giardiasis: Consequences And Possible Complications

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Giardiasis: Consequences And Possible Complications
Giardiasis: Consequences And Possible Complications

Video: Giardiasis: Consequences And Possible Complications

Video: Giardiasis: Consequences And Possible Complications
Video: Giardiasis 2024, March
Anonim

Giardiasis is a common disease caused by microorganisms that enter the human body from the environment. Giardia affects the gastrointestinal tract, especially the small intestine and liver. The life process of parasites in the body can cause many problems, disrupting the functioning of the infected organs. It is important to understand what the consequences of giardiasis can be.

Content

  • 1 Causes of infection
  • 2 Manifestations of the disease
  • 3 Consequences
  • 4 When complications may occur
  • 5 Prevention

As a rule, the diagnosis of giardiasis is established in schoolchildren and preschool children. But an adult who ignores the rules of personal hygiene can also become infected.

Reasons for infection

The reasons for the infection are obvious. In most cases, infectious agents are found in drinking water and human food. Dirty or insufficiently washed fruits and vegetables, raw water, poorly cooked meat - all these moments can be the causes of infection. It is possible to become infected with giardiasis by the oral method.

You can get infected by food, contact, household or water. The latter is considered the most dangerous - drinking raw water, we are guaranteed to get sick. Drinking water must be filtered and boiled. It is boiling that can eliminate parasite cysts, after which the liquid is harmless to use.

The infection process can occur through household contaminated items (linen, personal items, dishes). A child who bites his nails is at a particular risk. In addition to unwashed food, raw food can be a possible cause of infection.

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The disease has acute and chronic forms. Once in the body, lamblia absorbs decay products, transforms into cysts and moves to the colon. When the intestines are emptied, the parasite cysts end up in the environment. Their lifespan can reach 70 days.

Disease manifestations

The disease process and its manifestations are determined by the stage of the disease. It is easier to establish an acute degree with a pronounced clinical picture and with a duration not exceeding a week.

The signs of an acute form of giardiasis are identical to those of an acute form of intestinal infection. The disease is characterized by a slight increase in temperature, increased diarrhea, and indisposition in the stomach. Sometimes the body temperature may not rise, but usually it rises to 38 ° C and lasts for a long time. General malaise is noted, the body undergoes rapid fatigue, and overall vitality decreases. The infected person experiences sleep disturbance, loss of appetite, and persistent cephalalgic syndrome.

Effects

The initial lesion occurs in the small intestine, where the process of absorption of vital nutrients for the body takes place. It is disturbed by problems with the bacterial balance of the chyme.

With such a diagnosis as giardiasis, the composition of bacteria fails, being the main consequence of this disease. An obstacle is formed for the absorption of various substances through the intestinal mucosa. Toxic substances can enter the bloodstream, thereby disrupting the work of other organs.

The causative agents of the disease themselves produce harmful substances during their existence, which in huge quantities penetrate the bloodstream. Subsequently, some bowel functions may be impaired.

  1. The development of steatorrhea, in which the process of absorption of fats into the intestines is disturbed due to infection with lamblia. As a result of this disease, excess fat is observed in the feces of patients. The mass of fat can be tens and sometimes hundreds of grams. The disease is accompanied by diarrhea.
  2. Lactose intolerance and deficiency. Milk sugar is broken down in an incomplete way, which provokes the formation of various symptoms. As a rule, this condition is accompanied by excessive accumulation of gas in the intestines. Bloating occurs, and large volumes of digestive gases are released. Diarrhea may occur after eating dairy products.

If these symptoms are present, then there have been complications of absorption in the intestine, which indirectly indicates the presence of giardiasis. To restore the functions of the intestine and protect its mucous membrane, it is necessary to take absorbent intestinal agents. They prevent harmful substances from entering the bloodstream, and also destroy parasites. As soon as a full-fledged therapy for the disease begins, digestion will gradually improve.

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When complications may arise

The symptoms of the disease are multifaceted, the clinical picture is constantly changing and is a danger to the patient's life. Complications of giardiasis can be caused by untimely treatment of the patient for medical help and the delayed appointment of the correct treatment. Also, prolonged unsuccessful treatment of lamblia can provoke exacerbation of symptoms. But the main complications in children and adults are manifested in dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract and systematic malignant relapses of the disease.

A complication of the disease is a complex of functional disorders of digestion in the intestine. This condition is accompanied by pain in the stomach, upset stools and bloating. It is extremely rare that such a complication can be found in children. The treatment is quite lengthy and consists of many stages.

Giardiasis can cause a dangerous complication - secondary fermentopathy. Due to the penetration of lamblia, the cell walls are destroyed. Infected cells fail to produce the required enzymes, and the digestion process is interrupted. Abnormal digestion leads to dystrophy, growth retardation, depression and stress. For this reason, treatment must include enzymatic agents.

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If the underlying disease and its complications are not treated, it can lead to colonization of the intestines with Staphylococcus bacteria or yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida. These parasites create favorable conditions for the penetration and division of lamblia in the cell walls. This condition requires taking antibiotics and bacterial agents to normalize the biological flora.

Another type of complication can be considered systematic desensitization, as well as the presence of inflamed places in the intestine. An infected person observes the appearance of allergies, including itchy rashes, red spots on the skin. The use of antihistamines is recommended.

All of the above complications in the complex only complicate the therapeutic process to exclude the disease. The duration of treatment can only be determined by a specialist.

Prevention

Prevention of the disease caused by the causative agent of lamblia is similar to the prevention of other intestinal infections. It is difficult to become infected if you follow the usual rules of personal hygiene. It is necessary to use only boiled water, rinse food before eating. It is advisable to undergo regular preventive medical examinations.

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Care should be taken to communicate with pets, since they are often the parasite carriers.

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