Doctors' Answers to "Frequently Asked Questions" - Giardia


These comments are made for the purpose of discussion and should NOT be used as recommendations for or against therapies or other treatments. An individual patient is always advised to consult their own physician.

Giardia [posted 8/11/98]
Question: It seems that I have a chronic case of giardia that I first picked up while traveling in India. Although it seemed to be cured by a 10 day treatment with Flagyl 375, it came back. Any ideas as to how to get rid of this bug once and for all?

Answer: There have been reports of resistant giardia. Usually, larger doses will fix the problem, but you may need to check for resistance. For this you will need a sophisticated microbiology lab. Increase the dosage to 750 mg three times a day for 2 weeks. If it returns you'll need an upper GI with a small bowel follow through (an x-ray) if there is no mechanical problem in your small intestine, check for the resistance.

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Last modified August 11, 1998