Lambliasis (Giardiaisis) is an infection of the human intestine caused by the protozoan Giardia lamblia. It leads to an acute or chronic diarrhea. In the chronic course, phases of normal bowel movements alternate with typically postprandial episodes of diarrhea. Patients are particularly bothered by flatulence, which is conspicuous by a foul odor. Patients with chronic lamblial infestation often show varying degrees of malabsorption symptoms.
There are also associations with bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine (SIBO, IMO) or food intolerances (fructose, lactose, wheat, etc.). Likewise, it can lead to chronic states of exhaustion and to a so-called leaky gut syndrome and a reduced absorption of vitamins and trace elements (malabsorption syndrome). Similarly, nausea, vomiting, weight loss and abdominal pain may occur. Chronic infections with lamblia are possible. In children, failure to thrive may occur. Failure to thrive is defined as delayed growth in length and lack of weight gain, which can lead to developmental delays and maturity disorders.
By the way, there is not a single freshwater lake in Germany which is not contaminated with Lamblia. The conventional medical diagnosis consists of the detection of the lamblia antigen in the stool (Note: I have not met any conventional medical doctor or gastroenterologist, neither in the clinic nor in private practice, who still performs this test on patients) or by means of an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (OED, mirroring of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum), in which samples are taken from the upper part of the small intestine (duodenum) in order to check for lamblia. In my career as a physician, I have not seen a single positive finding in terms of an attempt at endoscopic diagnosis (using OED) since 2008. This made me think about it, because my patients had a lot of symptoms, and often you could even see an increased excretion of fat in a stool diagnosis.
However, numerous colleagues have frequently provided evidence of a lamblia infection using alternative medical diagnostic procedures (e.g. electroacupuncture according to Fonk). We test the stool for lamblia by means of PCR, by means of antibody diagnostics (the IFT for Giardia lamblia, which is considered obsolete by conventional medicine) and/or by means of cellular immunodiagnostics (LTT). In this way we can very accurately assess whether the patient has a lamblia infection or not. After an appropriate therapy, patients have been able to achieve significant improvements in their symptoms. Of course, this also calls into question the classic conventional medical method of diagnosis (if this is carried out at all), and if the patient’s symptoms are still associated with lambliae in the physician’s mind. Too often the patient ends up in psychosomatic treatment with the indication of the treating physician, that according to the gastroscopy and colonoscopy a somatic cause is excluded.
Infected people who have symptoms can be treated traditionally with tinidazole, metronidazole or nitazoxanide for oral administration. Likewise, natural substances can be added to the therapy or even partially replace them. It is important to note during therapy that lambliae may form a biofilm, which protects them against substances for therapy. This must be taken into account.
Another exciting topic that is often overlooked is Helicobacter pylori.
