Parental Perceptions of Giardiasis: A Study in an Outpatient Paediatric Hospital Setting in Havana, Cuba

Table 1

Responses to questions on communicable nature, mode of transmission, possibility of cure, and knowledge about symptoms of giardiasis among 202 caregivers.

Response to questions	No.	(%)
Is it a modern problem?
Yes	147	(72.7)
No	45	(22.3)
Do not know	10	(5.0)
May lead to death
Yes	79	(39.1)
No	96	(47.5)
Do not know	27	(13.4)
The organ affected by Giardia
Small intestine	125	(61.9)
Gallbladder	66	(32.7)
Liver	54	(26.7)
Stomach	11	(5.4)
Lungs	1	(0.5)
Bones	1	(0.5)
Colon	1	(0.5)
Do not know	39	(19.3)
If one is infected by Giardia, one will
Not necessary feel or know about it	127	(62.9)
Not have symptoms	0	(—)
Have symptoms	39	(19.3)
Do not know	36	(17.8)
Symptoms and signs of giardiasis
Abdominal pain^a	132	(65.3)
Diarrhoea^a	120	(54.4)
Loss of weight^a	101	(50)
Hives^a	88	(43.5)
Itching^a	66	(32.6)
Spots in the skin^a	55	(27.2)
Tiredness^a	23	(11.3)
Fever^a	16	(7.9)
Blood in faeces^a	12	(5.9)
Do not know	32	(15.8)
Most effective diagnostic tool
Microscopy of duodenal aspirate	171	(84.6)
Microscopy of faeces	18	(8.9)
Biopsy	2	(0.9)
Do not know	9	(4.4)
Is giardiasis preventable?
Yes	175	(86.6)
No	19	(9.4)
Do not know	8	(4)
Is giardiasis curable?
Yes	191	(94.5)
No	9	(4.4)
Do not know	2	(0.9)

^aPercentages are of the persons that knew at least one symptom.