Severely Elevated Fecal Calprotectin in A Pediatric Patient with Persistent Giardiasis

Abstract

Giardia, a protozoan pathogen, is a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis worldwide with higher prevalence in developing countries. It is a treatable diagnosis that should be considered in any patient presenting with clinical symptoms of abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea. It is diagnosed with stool microcopy, antigen testing, or immunologic assay. There are few studies on whether Giardia should be considered in the setting of elevated fecal calprotectin (FC), a stool biomarker of intestinal inflammation. We present the case of a patient with markedly elevated FC in the setting of persistent, severe giardiasis.