Giardiasis - It is a long lasting diarrhoea caused by the flagellated protozoan parasite Giardia lamblia.
It is the most common protozoan parasite associated with the waterborne outbreaks worldwide.
It lives in the small intestine and attaches to small hollows in the intestinal wall by its ventral sucking discs.
It multiplies there, disrupt the water uptake by microvilli and causes a watery diarrhoea.
The infection inhibits the absorption of fats and vitamins and causes the excretion of foul smelling stools.
It has an incubation period of about 7-10 days. Common symptoms include chronic diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, fatigue and weight loss
