A team of researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have published an article summarising what is known about giardiasis-associated chronic conditions and illnesses.
Giardiasis is a common infection caused by the parasite Giardia duodenalis that leads to mild gastrointestinal symptoms, or in some cases can lead to severe, prolonged diarrhoea.
Although usually short-lived, the research team explain that for some, Gardiasis can lead to infection-associated chronic conditions and illnesses (IACCIs) including ME/CFS, irritable bowel syndrome, and fibromyalgia.
Importantly, IACCIs can follow:
- A symptomatic infection: When a person is infected with a pathogen and experiences symptoms.
- An asymptomatic infection: when a person is infected with a pathogen but does not exhibit any noticeable symptoms. Importantly, although not symptomatic, in this case, the infection could still spread to others.
In the paper, the researchers note that although IACCIs are known to impair daily functioning and quality of life, more research is needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms, describe the prevalence, identify persons at increased risk, and develop effective treatment strategies.
