What Is Giardiasis?
7. Treatment
If symptoms of giardiasis are relatively mild, your doctor may recommend no treatment and allow the infection to resolve on its own. However, if you have severe symptoms, or if you work in a facility where you could potentially spread the disease to a vulnerable population, your doctor may prescribe medication to treat the infection.
The most common medications used to treat giardiasis include nitazoxanide, tinidazole, and metronidazole. Each has advantages as well as potential unpleasant side effects. Nitazoxanide is sometimes given to children who have difficulty swallowing pills because it comes in a liquid form, but it can cause eyes and urine to turn yellow. Metronidazole is the most commonly used medication used to treat giardiasis. A common side effect of metronidazole is a metallic taste in the mouth, and it must be taken for five to seven days. Tinidazole has similar side effects to metronidazole but works just as well after only one dose.
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