These diarrheas will resolve without treatment in less than 2 weeks, often less than 24 hours. It is found in untreated water and can be excreted in the stool of pets. There are new, specific tests for giardia now available. Typically persons with giardia infection will have frequent watery diarrhea with lots of intestinal gas. They will often feel ill after eating and may get nausea and discomfort in the upper abdomen.
Weight loss is common in patients with giardia.
This will evaluate for inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease. These diseases are often found when persons complain of bloody diarrhea. Removal of the lower part of the small intestine can result in malabsorption of bile salts which can cause diarrhea. Tests are available to determine if milk sugar is being absorbed normally. These are really quite rare.