A patient infected with Giardia lamblia may develop a reactive arthritis or synovitis.
Patient selection: reactive arthritis or synovitis, which may be associated with increased leukocytes in the synovial fluid
When to suspect that the arthritis is associated with giardiasis:
(1) The patient has evidence of giardiasis based on stool exam or small bowel biopsy.
(2) The patient may have an eosinophilia.
(3) The patient may have diarrhea and/or general malaise.
(4) Several people in a group may give a similar history of arthritis.
(5) Therapy of the giardiasis with clearance is associated with a decrease in the arthritis
(6) Other causes of arthritis have been excluded.
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Specialty: Immunology/Rheumatology
