Cases of giardiasis in England have hit a 10-year high, according to the BMJ, raising questions about what is driving the rise and what patients should watch for.
Cases of giardiasis — a gut infection caused by a tiny parasite called Giardia intestinalis that spreads through contaminated water or food — have reached their highest level in England for a decade, the BMJ has reported. The journal is asking what lies behind the increase and what both doctors and patients need to know.
Giardiasis causes symptoms including diarrhoea, stomach cramps, bloating, and nausea, sometimes lasting several weeks if left untreated. It’s caught by swallowing the parasite — often through drinking water that hasn’t been properly treated, eating contaminated food, or close contact with someone who is already infected.
The BMJ has not yet published a single explanation for the rise. But the question it is posing to clinicians is a pointed one — a 10-year peak suggests this is not background noise.
Anyone in Kent experiencing persistent diarrhoea lasting more than a few days, chiefly after travelling abroad, swimming in open water, or drinking from an untreated source, should contact their GP. The NHS advises that giardiasis is usually confirmed with a stool (poo) sample test and treated with a short course of antibiotics.
Key information
- Symptoms to watch for: watery or greasy diarrhoea, stomach cramps, bloating, feeling sick, and fatigue lasting more than a week
- When to seek help: contact your GP if symptoms persist beyond a few days, especially after foreign travel or open-water swimming
- Do not prepare food for others while symptomatic, and wash hands thoroughly after using the toilet
- NHS 111 is available by phone or online if you cannot reach your GP
Source: @bmj_latest
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