Giardia lamblia
Giardiasis is caused by a parasite called Giardia lamblia. After being ingested, it travels through your system and lives in your intestines.1 The organism is passed out of your body during bowel movements and it can survive in water, soil, or food and on surfaces.2
Giardia parasites have been found on hard surfaces such as stainless steel and Formica® in day care centers.3 They can also stay alive in water for up to 3 months and withstand the normal amounts of chlorine used in pools and water purification systems.1
You can get giardiasis by accidentally swallowing or putting something in your mouth that has been contaminated by feces from an infected person.2,3
For example, you could get sick if you:
- Ingest contaminated water from a lake or pool
- Swallow Giardia parasites after touching a door handle, diaper pail, or other surface that has come in contact with fecal matter from an infected person
Giardiasis risk factors
Certain people have a higher risk of getting giardiasis than others.2,4 These include:
- Travelers to areas where the disease is common
- Children in daycare
- Family members, household members, or day care members of an infected person
- People who ingest contaminated drinking water
- People who swallow contaminated water from lakes, rivers, or pools
- Hikers, backpackers, or other individuals involved in outdoor activities who drink untreated water or don't practice good hygiene
- People who have contact with infected animals
- Men who have sex with men
Important Safety Information
WARNING: POTENTIAL RISK FOR CARCINOGENICITY
Carcinogenicity has been seen in mice and rats treated chronically with metronidazole, another nitroimidazole agent. Although such data have not been reported for tinidazole, the two drugs are structurally related and have similar biologic effects. Its use should be reserved for the conditions described in INDICATIONS AND USAGE.
Contraindications
- Prior history of hypersensitivity to tinidazole or other nitroimidazole derivatives
- First trimester of pregnancy
- Nursing mothers, unless breast-feeding is interrupted during tinidazole therapy and for 3 days following the last dose
Warnings and Precautions
- Seizures and neuropathy have been reported. Discontinue Tindamax if abnormal neurologic signs develop
- Vaginal candidiasis may develop with Tindamax and require treatment with an antifungal agent
- Use Tindamax with caution in patients with blood dyscrasias. Tindamax may produce transient leukopenia and neutropenia
Adverse Reactions
Most common adverse reactions for a single 2 g dose of tinidazole (incidence >1%) are metallic/bitter taste, nausea, weakness/fatigue/malaise, dyspepsia/cramps/epigastric discomfort, vomiting, anorexia, headache, dizziness and constipation. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Mission Pharmacal Company at 1-800-298-1087 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch
This material is intended to provide basic information. Patients should discuss all medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment with their healthcare provider.
Please see full Prescribing Information
- Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary - Ed. 20, Editor Donald Venes. F.A. Davis Company 2005.
- Giardia Infection [Internet]. CDC; 2004 [accessed 2008 July 10]. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/giardiasis/2004_PDF_Giardiasis.pdf
- Giardia: Drinking Water Fact Sheet [Internet]. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water; 2000 Sept [accessed 2008 Jul 10]. Available from: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/criteria/humanhealth/microbial/giardiafs.pdf
- Yoder JS, Beach MJ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Giardiasis surveillance--United States, 2003-2005. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2007 Sep 7;56(7):11-8.
Websites
Only Tindamax® is approved to treat both bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis (TV).
Clinical Insight
Oral vs vaginal cream therapy: Patient preference for oral dosing is demonstrated to be 84%. More»
Beyond BV
Tindamax® may be prescribed for other infections including:
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