Giardia: Etiology and Pathology (Pediatric Nursing)

00:01 Now, we'll cover Giardia.

00:03 Giardia is also known as beaver fever and this is a parasitic infection caused by Giardia Lamblia.

00:09 It's one of the most common, parasitic human diseases worldwide.

00:13 It causes diarrhea, abdominal pain and weight loss and its spread via contaminated food and water.

00:19 It's diagnosed with stool test. And treatment is available.

00:24 So let's hear about Giardia Lamblia.

00:26 This is an infection that occurs in many animals, beavers, cows, rodents and sheep.

00:32 Once they're infected, the parasite is gonna live in their intestines.

00:35 And it's found in every region of the United States and around the world.

00:39 It's transmitted by swallowing Giardia, picked up from surfaces including bathroom handles, changing tables, diaper pails, toys that contain feces from an infected person or animal, so wash your hands.

00:52 You can also get this by drinking water or using ice made from sources where Giardia may live.

00:58 And this includes improperly treated water from lakes, streams or wells.

01:02 I always ask my patients where they get their water.

01:05 Is it from a well? Is it from city water? And whether or not they've been camping or purifying water on hikes.

01:10 Patients can also get Giardia by swallowing water while swimming where Giardia lives, including lakes, rivers, springs, ponds and streams.

01:19 You can also get Giardia by eating uncooked food that contains these organisms and having contact with someone who is ill with Giardia.

01:27 You can get this by traveling to countries where Giardia is common.

01:31 So, anything that comes in contact with feces from infected humans or animals can be dominated with the parasite.

01:38 Here are some common causes. You see a gentleman getting water from a stream.

01:41 It can come out of a tap if it's untreated or poorly treated.

01:46 Children playing in streams and rivers, and then they touch their hands or eat a meal can transmit Giardia.

01:51 We commonly see Giardia in animals and dogs who drink the same water.

01:55 And then also, daycare centers and schools.

01:58 And remember, anything touched by this parasite will become contaminated.

02:02 Giardia is a flagellated protozoan that causes enzyme issues and changes in the micro villus and it causes programmed cell death of the epithelial cells in the small intestine.

02:12 It's going to inhibit enzymes that help break down disaccharide sugars in the intestines.

02:18 And it's gonna alter the normal flora in the intestines.

02:21 This altered villi is going to lead to the inability to absorb nutrients and water from the intestine so it'll pass right through resulting in diarrhea.

02:30 The intestinal permeability increases, and the degree to which malabsorption occurs is highly variable.

02:37 Here is the process. First at the top, a cyst is ingested by a patient.

02:42 These trophozoites are gonna hatch and multiply in the small intestine.

02:47 And then they're going to encyst in the large intestine.

02:50 Then they will be expelled in the feces and these cysts are gonna contaminate the environment and fomites.