Giardiasis-associated arthralgia in children

Background. Giardiasis is the most common intestinal parasitosis in Mexico. Usual symptoms of the acute infection are diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea , and weight loss. Children are more frequently affected than adults. Vario us extra-intestinal manifestations have been reported, among which are arth ritis and arthralgia. Methods. A series of 10 children with arthralgia and cysts of Giardia lambl ia in feces seen during 13 years of private practice were presented. Ages r anged between 5 and 11 years, and 70% of the children are males. Results. The joints involved in all cases were the knee and the ankle. No j oint flogosis or changes in local temperature were observed. Other associat ed symptoms were abdominal pain (100%), abdominal distension (70%), flatule nce (50%), less consistent stools (50%), anemia (30%), and increased erythr ocyte sedimentation rate (60%). C-reactive protein and rheumatoid factor we re negative in all cases. Arthralgia disappeared after treatment with metro nidazole when coproparasitoscopic analyses were negative. Conclusions. Arthralgia associated with giardiasis in children is a rare en tity, relatively benign, and leaves no sequelae. (C) 2001 IMSS. Published b y Elsevier Science Inc.