Treatment of lamblia in adults: how to treat, drugs, diet, prevention

Every day around the world, thousands of people are infected with various protozoan parasites, which subsequently live in their body, poisoning it with toxins and leading to various diseases. At the same time, few people suspect that they have such "uninvited guests", meanwhile, a person can literally melt before our eyes.

What is giardiasis

Giardiasis is a parasitic infection caused by protozoan flagellate microorganisms.

Giardia can be in vegetative (active) form or in the form of cysts.

Cyst is a temporary form of the existence of parasites, in which they have a protective shell. It is thanks to her that they can be outside the host organism for a long time. Cysts can be resistant to environmental conditions for 2-3 months, in soil they survive up to 3 months, in water up to a week.

Their stability is manifested even in the aggressive environment of the stomach.

The vegetative (active) form is invasive, that is, capable of infection. While at this stage of development, the parasite can stick to the wall of the small intestine. In this form, it can exist for about 38-42 days. If the pathogen enters the external environment, it dies. It is also not resistant to boiling and disinfecting.

Sometimes, if an immature individual enters the external environment, it manages to become covered with a cyst and then survives.

Infection routes and symptoms

The transmission mechanism of lamblia is fecal-oral, that is, it is the infected person who secretes thousands of parasites with his feces.

Infection can occur in various ways, for example:

• contact and household, when parasites enter the body through dishes, toys, clothes, handshake;
• aquatic, when a person uses raw, unpurified water;
• food, when a person consumes unwashed or not thermally processed fruits, vegetables, meat.

Attention! Bad habits like biting nails or licking pens and pencils in almost 100% of cases lead to giardiasis.

It is worth noting that animals are also susceptible to giardiasis, but it has not been proven that people can become infected from them. Perhaps the fact is that they have a slightly different form of parasites.

The disease often occurs in a latent form, and can last for many years. The clinical picture is blurred, since there are no clear symptoms of giardiasis. Any disease can give the same manifestations as parasite infestation.

The severity of the disease depends on many factors, including:

• the age of the person;
• the state of his immune system;
• the presence or absence of concomitant diseases from the intestine;
• quality of food.

The main symptoms are:

• loss of appetite;
• nausea, weakness;
• weight loss;
• painful sensations in the hypochondrium and near the navel;
• heartburn;
• violation of defecation;
• flatulence.

After the parasite adheres to the intestinal wall, it begins to feed and release toxins. Due to the accumulation of harmful substances, the following additional symptoms appear:

• irritability, aggression;
• seizures, cracks in the corners of the mouth;
• dryness, pallor of the skin;
• headaches, depression;
• insomnia.

It is dangerous that lamblia can affect the gallbladder and liver, then there is stagnation of bile, dysfunction of the biliary tract. Cholecystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, echinococcosis develop.

Each person may have their own individual complex of clinical manifestations.

Forms of giardiasis

Depending on which specific symptoms prevail, there are several types of giardiasis.

Forms of the disease

Name	Symptoms
1. Intestinal	This option is characterized by inflammation of the small and duodenal ulcer. In this case, the following manifestations arise: Soreness of the abdomen, especially near the navel; · nausea; Poor appetite Heartburn and belching; • upset stool; Steatorrhea (indigestibility of fats and their excretion along with feces in an unchanged form).
2. Hepatobiliary	Such organs as the gallbladder, bile ducts, and the liver are affected. In this case, such manifestations are characteristic as: · Pain in the right hypochondrium; · Bitter taste in the mouth; Belching; · Soreness increases with palpation on the right side.
3. Astheno-neurotic	With this form, the central nervous system is affected, as a result of which the following symptoms appear: • irritability; · Aggression; · insomnia; · Depression.
4. Toxic-allergic	Due to severe intoxication, the human body begins to react to any external factors with a strong allergic reaction. At the same time, such manifestations of the disease as: Hives; Quincke's edema; Eczema · atopic dermatitis.
5. Mixed	In this case, different systems and organs can be affected, and the symptoms are completely varied.

Diagnostics

Diagnosing giardia is difficult without a laboratory test. If pinworms make themselves felt with unpleasant sensations in the anus and they can even be seen in their own feces, then Giardia is masked very effectively.

If you suspect a lamblia infection, you must pass:

• blood test (antibodies to lamblia are examined);
  

  Blood test

• analysis of feces (detect the presence of cysts).
  

  Stool analysis

Also, a study of the duodenum is carried out using duodenal intubation to identify mature parasites.

Scatological analysis of feces is not always reliable, since cysts may not be present in the feces at the moment, but mature individuals are already actively parasitizing in the intestines.

Giardia treatment

The patient's treatment regimen involves several stages.

1. Diet.
2. Drug therapy.
3. Strengthening the body's defenses and eliminating the consequences of giardiasis.

For reference! Treatment of giardiasis in pregnant women is not carried out, since all medications used have a negative effect on the development of the fetus. Removal of parasites is delayed at least until the postpartum period.

Diet for illness implies elimination of carbohydrates from the diet. You need to eat more protein foods and fiber: fresh and boiled vegetables, dried fruits, whole grain cereals, lean meats.

The drinking regimen should also include only healthy drinks: cranberry juice, freshly squeezed carrot and beet juices, green tea. It is necessary to consume at least 2 liters of liquid per day.

At the stage of the diet, it is necessary to establish digestion and metabolism. An important point is the elimination of intoxication; for this, sorbent preparations are used: activated carbon, Enterosgel.

Choleretic agents are also used to eliminate congestion in the gallbladder.

Enzyme preparations ("Mezim", "Creon") help to better break down and assimilate food.

Effective at the first stage is the use of the drug "Enterol", which, firstly, helps to normalize the intestinal microflora, and secondly, has an antibacterial and immunostimulating effect. The drug is available in capsules and powder. It is necessary to take the medicine 1-2 hours before meals. In this case, the powder can be diluted in pure water, juice or milk if desired.

At the second stage, drugs of one of the following categories are used:

• benzimidazole group;
• nitrofuran medicines;
• nitroimidazole agents.

List of the most effective and popular drugs and drugs based on them.

The main active ingredient	Brand name	Dosage	additional information
1. Ornidazole	- "Tiberal"; - "Dazolik"; - "Ornisid"; - "Gairo".	Treatment can take place according to 2 schemes: - a single dose of 3 tablets (1.5 g) at night; - 1 tablet (500 mg) every 12 hours for 36 hours.	The drug should not be used during pregnancy, and during breastfeeding, it is necessary to stop feeding the baby for a while. Side effects occur in 15% of cases and among them are: nausea, dizziness, change in taste.
2. Tinidazole	- "Tinidazole"; - "Fasizhin"; - "Tiniba".	The drug is used once in a dosage of 2 g (4 tablets of 500 mg).	The effectiveness of the drug is about 80%. It should not be consumed during pregnancy and lactation. Side effects include dizziness, nausea, and drowsiness.
3. Nifuratel	"McMiror"	It is necessary to use the drug for a week, 2 times a day, 2 tablets (each tablet contains 200 mg of active ingredient).	The remedy is the most effective today, since it has a minimum of side effects, does not affect the liver. The drug additionally fights Helicobacter pylori, intestinal infections and fungi.
4. Albendazole	- "Sanoksal"; - "Nemozol"; - "Aldazol".	The drug is taken once a day (400 mg capsule), after meals, for 3-7 days, according to indications.	The drug is universal and helps to get rid of not only lamblia, but also pinworms, roundworms and many other parasites. The remedy is contraindicated for women during the period of bearing a child and breastfeeding. Side effects of the medication: nausea, dizziness, increased pressure, itching.

The previously used drug furazolidone is now not used, since its effectiveness against lamblia has not been proven and there are a large number of side effects.

There is a scheme for the treatment of parasites using the drug "Trichopol". It is known to many as a remedy for dandruff, but in fact, this medicine has a wide spectrum of action, since it has antiprotozoal and antimicrobial effects.

There are 3 treatment regimens with trichopolum.

1. The course of treatment is 2 days: a day you need to drink 8 tablets at a time (which is equal to 2 g).
2. Use 3 tablets in the morning and 5 tablets in the evening.
3. Use 1 tablet three times a day for a week.

The drug has contraindications. Its use is strictly prohibited for liver failure, leukopenia and central nervous system damage. It cannot be used on its own; prior consultation with a doctor is required.

None of the above drugs can give a 100% guarantee of getting rid of lamblia, so any course of treatment is repeated after a short period of time.

In order to tolerate side effects in the treatment of parasites, you must use:

• antihistamines (Zirtek, Suprastin);
  

  "Zyrtek"

• anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating ("Wobenzim") - it is recommended to use several pills three times a day before meals.
  

  "Wobenzim"

At the final stage of treatment, it is necessary to help the body recover after the death of lamblia. Disorders in the digestive tract cannot go away in 1 day, however, if you carry out a full-fledged restoration work, you can remove most of the negative consequences.

Giardia are active consumers of vitamins and minerals in the body, so a person often suffers from vitamin deficiency in their presence. After treatment, it is necessary to replenish the reserves of the necessary substances with the help of vitamin complexes. It will be useful to take prebiotics at the same time, for example, "Stimbifid", which contains vitamins of group B, C and E, inulin and oligofructose. The recommended dose is 2-3 tablets 3 times a day with meals.

At the final stage, you can repeat the course of the drug "Enterol".

To stimulate the immune system, immunomodulators are prescribed, for example, "Polyoxidonium". The drug can be used in the form of suppositories, drops or injections.

Traditional methods of treating lamblia

Despite the fact that giardiasis is a serious disease, there are still homemade recipes to help fight parasites. It should be noted that no such medicine will be able to completely destroy Giardia, but it can help to weaken them. Some recipes are aimed at increasing the body's defenses to combat intoxication caused by lamblia.

1. Pumpkin seeds. Many a well-known remedy for parasites, but not everyone knows that the most important part in the seeds is precisely the thin green husk. It is necessary to grind about 200 g of raw seeds in a mortar, add 1 tsp. l. honey and cover with water until a homogeneous mixture is obtained. It should be taken on an empty stomach, about 1 hour before meals. Over time, you need to take a laxative.
   

   Pumpkin seeds

2. Horseradish. It is necessary to take several roots of the plant, rinse well, pass through a meat grinder. Pour the resulting mushy mass with cold boiled water. The product is infused for several days, then filtered and mixed with honey, based on a 1: 1 ratio. You need to take the medicine 1 spoon three times a day for a week. Then a short break is taken and the course is repeated.
   

   Horseradish

3. Tansy. It is necessary to pour 1 spoonful of herb with boiling water (250 ml), let it brew, strain and consume the resulting drink 3 times a day on an empty stomach.
   

   Common tansy, flowers

Prophylaxis

Disease prevention measures are reduced to maintaining strict hygiene, namely, it is necessary:

• thoroughly process vegetables and fruits with water before eating;
• do not bite your nails;
• eat at home, not on the street;
• swim with caution in open water;
• use filtered and boiled water.

Ideally, once a year, without waiting for the manifestation of any symptoms, it is necessary to undergo an examination of the body for the presence of parasites so that they can be eliminated in time before they hit the internal organs finally.

The treatment of giardiasis must be approached systemically. After consultation with a doctor, each person is selected individual therapy, depending on the set of symptoms, possible side effects and the presence of concomitant diseases.

It should be remembered that every 3 people are susceptible to parasite infestation, therefore it is best to observe careful hygiene in order to prevent infestations.

Video - Symptoms and treatment of giardiasis