What are the symptoms of giardiasis?

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Diarrhea is the most common symptom experienced by people suffering from giardiasis. Other common symptoms include abdominal cramps, gas, nausea, and bloating.1

If you have giardiasis, you may notice symptoms about a week after being infected, however, some people don't notice symptoms for up to 25 days.1,2 Other people may be asymptomatic, meaning they have the disease but don't notice any symptoms at all.

Giardia symptoms normally last anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks.1 However, they can vary from person to person, and they may depend on the amount of contaminated matter ingested, the length of time you've been infected, and a number of other factors.

Common symptoms of giardiasis1

  • Diarrhea
  • Abdominal cramps
  • Gas
  • Nausea or upset stomach
  • Bloating
  • Greasy stools that tend to float
  • Dehydration and weight loss

Complications of giardiasis

Giardiasis has been associated with other gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, and in fact, it may be misdiagnosed as IBS.3,4 Giardiasis has also been linked to other health complications such as reactive arthritis and urticaria/pruritus or other skin disorders.5-7

Important Safety Information

WARNING: POTENTIAL RISK FOR CARCINOGENICITY

Carcinogenicity has been seen in mice and rats treated chronically with metronidazole, another nitroimidazole agent. Although such data have not been reported for tinidazole, the two drugs are structurally related and have similar biologic effects. Its use should be reserved for the conditions described in INDICATIONS AND USAGE.

Contraindications

  • Prior history of hypersensitivity to tinidazole or other nitroimidazole derivatives
  • First trimester of pregnancy
  • Nursing mothers, unless breast-feeding is interrupted during tinidazole therapy and for 3 days following the last dose

Warnings and Precautions

  • Seizures and neuropathy have been reported. Discontinue Tindamax if abnormal neurologic signs develop
  • Vaginal candidiasis may develop with Tindamax and require treatment with an antifungal agent
  • Use Tindamax with caution in patients with blood dyscrasias. Tindamax may produce transient leukopenia and neutropenia

Adverse Reactions

Most common adverse reactions for a single 2 g dose of tinidazole (incidence >1%) are metallic/bitter taste, nausea, weakness/fatigue/malaise, dyspepsia/cramps/epigastric discomfort, vomiting, anorexia, headache, dizziness and constipation. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Mission Pharmacal Company at 1-800-298-1087 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch

This material is intended to provide basic information. Patients should discuss all medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment with their healthcare provider.

Please see full Prescribing Information

  1. Giardia Infection [Internet]. CDC; 2004 [accessed 2008 July 10]. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/giardiasis/2004_PDF_Giardiasis.pdf
  2. Giardia: Drinking Water Fact Sheet [Internet]. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water; 2000 Sept [accessed 2008 Jul 10]. Available from: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/criteria/humanhealth/microbial/giardiafs.pdf
  3. Stark D, van Hal S, Marriott D, Ellis J, Harkness J. Irritable bowel syndrome: a review on the role of intestinal protozoa and the importance of their detection and diagnosis. Int J Parasitol. 2007 Jan;37(1):11-20. Epub 2006 Oct 12.
  4. Grazioli B, Matera G, Laratta C, Schipani G, Guarnieri G, Spiniello E, Imeneo M, Amorosi A, Focà A, Luzza F. Giardia lamblia infection in patients with irritable bowel syndrome and dyspepsia: a prospective study. World J Gastroenterol. 2006 Mar 28;12(12):1941-4.
  5. Yoder JS, Beach MJ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Giardiasis surveillance--United States, 2003-2005. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2007 Sep 7;56(7):11-8.
  6. Mahmoud MS, Salem AA, Rifaat MM. Human giardiasis as an etiology of skin allergy: the role of adhesion molecules and interleukin-6. J Egypt Soc Parasitol. 2004 Dec;34(3):723-37.
  7. González-Gay MA, Cereijo MJ, Aguero JJ, Sánchez-Andrade A, López Roses L. [Reactive arthritis and infestation by Giardia lamblia] Rev Esp Enferm Dig. 1991 Oct;80(4):269-70.

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Only Tindamax® is approved to treat both bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis (TV).

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Oral vs vaginal cream therapy: Patient preference for oral dosing is demonstrated to be 84%. More»

Beyond BV

Tindamax® may be prescribed for other infections including:

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