Abstract
Giardia duodenalis is among the most prevalent intestinal protozoan parasites responsible for diarrhoeal illness. The burden of infection remains disproportionately high in developing countries, where inadequate sanitation, unsafe drinking water, and suboptimal hygiene practices sustain transmission. Giardiasis contributes substantially to gastrointestinal morbidity and manifests across a broad clinical spectrum, from asymptomatic carriage to chronic diarrhoeal disease. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of giardiasis among patients attending a tertiary care teaching hospital and to characterise the clinico-demographic profile of individuals diagnosed with Giardia infection. A retrospective observational study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology, N.S.C.B. Medical College, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, over two calendar years (Jan2022 to Dec 2023). All stool specimens submitted for routine parasitological examination were included. Gross examination and direct wet mount preparations using normal saline and Lugol’s iodine were performed, followed by light microscopic identification of Giardia cysts and trophozoites. Relevant demographic and clinical data were retrieved from laboratory registers and patient records and analysed using descriptive statistics. Of 946 stool samples processed, 65 were positive for Giardia duodenalis, yielding an overall prevalence of 6.87%. Year-specific prevalence was 7.98% in 2022 (38/476) and 5.74% in 2023 (27/470). Males constituted 52.31% of positive cases. The highest age-specific burden was recorded in the 0–20-year group (36.9%), followed by the 21–40-year group (32.3%) and the 41–60-year group (20.0%). Of 65 positive cases, 53 (81.54%) were symptomatic and 12 (18.46%) were asymptomatic. Among symptomatic patients, diarrhoea was the most frequent presentation (32.08%), followed by abdominal pain (26.42%) and loss of appetite (20.75%); pregnancy was documented as an associated condition in 20.75% of female cases. The present study demonstrates a clinically significant prevalence of giardiasis, with the greatest burden observed in younger age groups. Diarrhoea and abdominal pain were the predominant clinical presentations. These findings reinforce the public health relevance of giardiasis and underscore the need for strengthened sanitation infrastructure, access to safe drinking water, early laboratory diagnosis, and sustained health education in endemic regions.
Keywords: Giardiasis; Giardia duodenalis; Intestinal Parasites; Diarrhoea; Prevalence; Retrospective Study