@article{article_72423, title={Is there an association of giardiasis with beta-thalassemia minor?}, journal={EASTERN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE}, volume={15}, pages={128–131}, year={2013}, author={Yakoob, Javed and Jafri, Wasim and Shaikh, Hizbullah}, keywords={β-Thalassemia-trait, diarrhea, abdominal pain, giardiasis, CD2}, abstract={<p> <strong>Abstract. </strong> Beta–thalassemia minor  is a symptomless carrier state of a hemoglobinopathy which predisposes to bacterial infections. We report three cases presenting with giardiasis, a parasitic infection of gastrointestinal tract caused by Giardia lamblia. Patients presented with recurrent diarrhea and abdominal pain for over a year. An esophagogastroduodenoscopy finding varied from normal to acute duodenitis. Duodenal biopsy demonstrated changes consistent with mild chronic non-specific inflammation with G. lamblia trophozoites. All three patients were diagnosed as β -thalassemia minor hemoglobin electrophoresis. They were treated with Diloxanide furoate 500 mg and Metronidazole 400mg three times daily for five days. Their symptoms resolved and a stool test repeated one week after  the end of treatment was normal. The host immune system both humoral and cellular components have a role in protection and clearance of Giardiasis. However, β -thalassemia minor patients have an observed probability of gardiasis but not a confirmed incidence. </p> <p>  </p> <p class="Trkezet">Key words: β-Thalassemia-trait, diarrhea, abdominal pain, giardiasis, CD2 </p>}, number={3}, publisher={Van Yuzuncu Yıl University}