Early and Accurate Giardia Detection Contributes to Saving Lives!

Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwaAZTwaPJQ

Giardia is a protozoan parasite that causes giardiasis. It is a common illness that causes diarrhea and can spread easily from one person to another or through contaminated water. In other words, we can describe giardia as a common intestinal infection, and people can also get sick with giardiasis from contaminated food, surfaces, and objects. 

Giardia is a significant health concern in India. Various studies have revealed that giardia in India is prevalent in 10%–30% of different regions, with a higher prevalence in areas with poor sanitation and water quality. 

Giardia infection is common among children under five and can be as high as 20% to 40%. Rural children tend to have higher prevalence rates because of inadequate sanitation and water facilities and limited access to clean water. Nevertheless, the prevalence can increase during the monsoon season owing to flooding and water contamination, resulting in outbreaks in certain areas. 

Here the question is: What is the key to saving more lives when giardia spreads at a higher rate?

The key to saving more lives in areas where the disease is prevalent is a timely and accurate diagnosis. 

Let’s see how a timely and accurate diagnosis helps cure giardia.

A timely and accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment and improving patients’ health outcomes. It can help in the following ways: 

• Early Initiation of Treatment: Early diagnosis of giardia leads to immediate treatment, which can reduce symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and nausea. Besides, timely treatment reduces complications such as dehydration, malnutrition, and weight loss. 
• Reduces the risk of spreading: Once the cause of giardia is identified and the treatment has begun, it will prevent the transmission of the disease to others. 
• Prevents long-term health concerns: Early treatment can prevent long-term health issues linked to untreated giardia, such as gastrointestinal problems, and developmental delays in children. 
• Administration of correct therapy: Getting the right diagnosis is a key aspect of healthcare. An accurate diagnosis helps the doctor make the best treatment decision for their patients.
• Reduces healthcare costs: Early diagnosis and treatment help prevent the severity of diseases that require more intensive medical treatment and may cost you more. 
• Avoids misdiagnosis: Misdiagnosis of Giardiasis could lead to prolonged suffering. 

Besides, early detection, and timely and accurate treatment also facilitate public health authorities to monitor trends, identify outbreaks, and regulate effective control measures. 

A timely and accurate diagnosis of giardia helps in managing the infection effectively. It reduces its spread, prevents complications, and improves overall health outcomes. Further, it ensures that you receive appropriate treatment promptly, thus unlocking the key to controlling and eventually reducing the burden of giardiasis.

Check out a case study to learn about the importance of timely diagnosis in Giardia treatment. 

Dr. Mayanka Lodha Seth, a consultant histopathologist at Redcliffe Labs, revealed the clinical lab diagnosis story. 

Case Report: 

A one and a half-year-old male child was presented with watery diarrhea alternating with gray tools for the last 2 to 3 days. Some of his symptoms include: 

• Vomiting
• Crampy abdominal pain
• Fatigued
• Unable to eat properly
• Loose watery stools
• Loss of appetite
• Fever

However, the expert revealed that these were very common symptoms and could have been produced by a variety of diseases, such as bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections. Besides, she also added that in this age group, even lactose intolerance could have produced these kinds of symptoms. The child needed the treatment; however, the doctor and her team needed to be sure about the actual cause. 

Method Used: Stool Sample Test

It is easiest and non-evasive. A stool sample was brought in the lab. The microscopy was performed using direct mounts and concentration methods. 

Inference: The stool sample test revealed oval, crisp structures with diagonal exostyle and small nuclei. These were the cyst form of an intestinal parasite known as Giardia. The diagnosis was pretty clear. The child was suffering from acute giardia. However, if this had been caused by bacterial infection or malabsorption, then the sample findings would have been entirely different. 

Further, she added that the child developed this infection when his family attended a community fair at a local water body. This infection occurs via the FICCO oral route and the cyst form of Giardia, which can survive in water for months and is very infectious. 

So, these are the causes of the acquisition of the infection. Therefore, it is correct to say that even the simplest of lab tests can successfully diagnose so many diseases. 

The Next Steps: 

The reports were sent to the doctors without delay after the actual cause of the diseases was detected. 

A timely and accurate diagnosis helped the child get the best treatment possible and soon was out of the risk.