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Severe giardiasis in the United States
E J Lengerich1, D G Addiss, D D Juranek
1Division of Parasitic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
Summary
Severe giardiasis, caused by Giardia lamblia, leads to significant hospitalizations, especially in young children and women. Physicians should consider this diagnosis for severe gastrointestinal illness.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Giardia lamblia is a common gastrointestinal pathogen.
- Severe illness from giardiasis is often underestimated.
- Understanding the epidemiology of severe giardiasis is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the epidemiology of severe giardiasis.
- To compare hospitalization rates of giardiasis with shigellosis.
- To identify demographic groups and complications associated with severe giardiasis.
Main Methods:
- Review of hospital discharge data from the United States and Michigan.
- Analysis of data from 1979 to 1988 for the US and 1983 to 1987 for Michigan.
- Comparison of giardiasis hospitalization rates with those of shigellosis.
Main Results:
- An estimated 4,600 annual hospitalizations for giardiasis in the US (2.0 per 100,000 persons).
- Highest rates observed in children under 5 and women of childbearing age.
- Volume depletion (33.2%) and failure to thrive in children (18.7%) were significant complications.
Conclusions:
- Giardiasis can cause severe illness requiring hospitalization.
- Physicians should consider giardiasis in patients presenting with severe gastrointestinal symptoms.
- Further attention to giardiasis as a cause of severe disease is warranted.