giardiasis

American  

[jee-ahr-dahy-uh-sis, jahr-] / ˌdʒi ɑrˈdaɪ ə sɪs, dʒɑr- /

noun

Pathology.

1. an intestinal disorder characterized by abdominal discomfort and prolonged, intermittent diarrhea, caused by the protozoan Giardia lamblia and contracted by drinking untreated water, as of streams or ponds, contaminated with the feces of infected animals.

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giardiasis British  

/ ˌdʒaɪɑːˈdaɪəsɪs /

noun

1. infection with the parasitic protozoan Giardia lamblia , which can cause severe diarrhoea

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giardiasis Scientific  

/ jē′är-dī′ə-sĭs /

1. An intestinal infection caused by the protozoan Giardia lamblia. It is usually asymptomatic in humans but can cause diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal cramping. Giardiasis is most commonly transmitted by contaminated water and by direct contact among individuals in group settings.

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Etymology

Origin of giardiasis

First recorded in 1915–20; see origin at giardia, -asis

Example Sentences

Almost immediately, I found a potential answer: giardiasis.

From Slate • Jul. 26, 2025

The 46-year-old was diagnosed with giardiasis, an intestinal infection, and was hospitalized for four days while doctors treated his symptoms, drew blood and performed a CT scan.

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2023

David Deveney suffered giardiasis after spending two hours in the River Severn, and said an investigation found an 80% chance it came from human sewage.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2022

That’s why treating backcountry water sources for contamination is a fundamental tenet of outdoor recreation education, ignored at the peril of contracting giardiasis, cryptosporidiosis, or worse.

From Slate • Feb. 1, 2018

She regularly contracts dysentery, giardiasis and brain fever from her exposure to human waste.

From Time Magazine Archive