Giardiasis Disease - Essay Example

Giardiasis Disease Grade (16th, Jan. Giardiasis Disease fact sheet Giardiasis Disease Causative agent The disease is caused by a microscopic parasite known as Giardia 2. Signs/Symptoms Diarrhea Gas Greasy stools that tend to float Stomach or abdominal cramps Upset stomach or nausea/vomiting Dehydration (loss of fluids) 3. Incidence occurs when the Giardia microscopic parasite invades the small intestines and blocks them, hindering the absorption of nutrients 4. Risk Factors Consumption of un-boiled or untreated water Use of recreational water that has been contaminated by infected fecal materials Consumption of contaminated food 5.

Diagnostics Test stool microscopy The entero-test 6. Treatments Under the conditions of persistent symptoms, metronidazole, and albendazole are the main drugs administered, with a long duration of at least 5-10 day intake 7. The prognosis (Outcome) Treated of the infection after the intake of the drugs, although long-term gastrointestinal disorders may be experienced 8. Mortality rate There is no mortality rate associated with this disease 9. Prevention Can be prevented through drinking water that is boiled or treated well Washing hands before eating Washing fruits and vegetables before eating them.

Giardiasis Disease: Summary of a Doctor and nurse perspective Giardiasis Disease is an intestinal parasitic disease that is not well elaborate in terms of symptoms displayed. While the display of symptoms in patients suffering from the disease can take 2 to 3 weeks, the symptoms may not display at all in certain individuals (Ortega, 2009). To add to the complexity of this disease is the fact that, the symptoms may appear and then resolve after some time, only to re-appear later in a different form.

The disease is caused by a microscopic parasite known as Giardia which can either be found in food, soil, or water that is already contaminated with the feces material from an animal or human being who is infected by the microscopic parasite (Pennardt, 2009). The microscopic parasite is coated with an outer shell, which allows it to survive outside the body of a living organism for a long period of time while waiting to be consumed by the living organisms so it can cause infection. The parasite also tolerates chlorine disinfection, making it survive even in chlorinated water (Ortega, 2009).

Therefore, water, both consumption and recreational, is the most common method of transmitting the parasite to humans and animals. The signs and symptoms depicted by individuals infected by the disease include diarrhea and loose stool, where the individual infected experiences severe and consistent diarrhea for a long period of time (Ortega, 2009). Stomach cramps, discomforts, and stomach upsets are other common symptoms that are depicted by the individuals suffering from this infection. The individual suffering from this disease is also characterized by prolonged vomiting, excessive stomach bloating, and excessive stomach gases.

The disease is also characterized by loss of appetite, weight loss, malnutrition, and low levels of body fat, vitamins; mostly vitamin A and vitamin B12, and lactose (Pennardt, 2009). Giardiasis Disease incidence occurs when the Giardia microscopic parasite invades the small intestines and blocks them, hindering the absorption of nutrients from the food substances flowing through the small intestines. This blockage causes low absorption of nutrients and vitamins by the body, while also causing lactose intolerance (Ortega, 2009).

The risk factor for this disease is the consumption of water or the use of recreational water that has been contaminated by fecal materials from humans or animals that are already infected. Food contamination also serves as the other risk factor, although water transmission is the most common method. The main diagnostic procedure for Giardiasis Disease is stool microscopy, where the fecal material of individuals is observed through the microscope, to determine whether the microscopic parasite is present (Pennardt, 2009).

The entero-test, which uses a capsule that is attached to a thread is also another diagnosis of the infection, where the patient swallows the capsule and retains the thread in the cheek, after which the capsule is removed and assessed for the microscopic parasite through a microscope (Ortega, 2009). The treatment for this disease may not be necessary since it resolves itself at times. However, under the conditions of persistent symptoms, metronidazole and albendazole are the main drugs administered, with a long duration of at least 5-10 day intake (Pennardt, 2009).

The prognosis is that the patient will be fully treated for the infection after the intake of the drugs, although long-term gastrointestinal disorders may be experienced following Giardiasis Disease for some patients. Nevertheless, there is no mortality rate associated with this disease, since its treatment is highly effective, and if any death arises, it is a result of dehydration and malnutrition, mostly for infants (Ortega, 2009). Giardiasis Disease can be prevented by drinking water that is boiled or treated well, washing hands before eating, as well as washing fruits and vegetables before eating them.