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Abdominal pain and asthenia as common clinical features in hospitalized children for giardiasis

Pedro Almirall1, Fidel A Núñez, Janet Bello

  • 1Municipal Centre of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Microbiology, Havana, Cuba.

Acta Tropica
|May 23, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Giardiasis in hospitalized children is linked to abdominal pain and asthenia. This study highlights the importance of considering Giardia lamblia infection in pediatric patients presenting with these symptoms.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Gastroenterology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Giardiasis, caused by Giardia lamblia, is a globally prevalent parasitic infection.
  • Prevalence and clinical presentation of giardiasis vary significantly across different regions.
  • Understanding the specific clinical patterns in hospitalized children is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the clinical manifestations of Giardia lamblia infection in hospitalized children.
  • To identify specific symptoms associated with giardiasis in this pediatric population.
  • To determine the independent contribution of key symptoms to Giardia infection.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study was conducted comparing hospitalized children with and without Giardia lamblia infection.
  • Focus was placed on four clinical manifestations: diarrhea, abdominal pain, asthenia, and vomiting.
  • Multivariable analysis was employed to assess independent associations between symptoms and infection.

Main Results:

  • Abdominal pain showed a significant positive association with Giardia infection (OR 4.71, 95% CI 2.66-8.32).
  • Asthenia was also independently associated with Giardia infection (OR 3.30, 95% CI 1.16-9.37).
  • Diarrhea and vomiting did not show significant independent associations in this cohort.

Conclusions:

  • Giardia lamblia infection is significantly associated with abdominal pain and asthenia in hospitalized children in Havana City.
  • Clinicians should consider giardiasis in pediatric patients presenting with abdominal pain and asthenia, especially within relevant epidemiological contexts.
  • These findings underscore the importance of diagnostic evaluation for Giardia in hospitalized children with suggestive symptoms.

Keywords:
Abdominal painAstheniaChildrenDiarrhoeaGiardiasisVomiting

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