Giardiasis and subsequent diagnosis of HIV infection in a patient with persistent diarrhoea: a case report.

Although its prevalence in resource-rich countries is not precisely estimated, persistent diarrhoea is not a common event if extreme ages are excluded. Enteric pathogens, of various underlying aetiologies, often cause major diarrhoeal syndromes, especially in immunocompromised adults. While there is a rich medical literature regarding HIV-related infections, information about the diagnosis of HIV-infection from diarrhoea as a presenting complaint is scarce. Our case report focuses on a 29-year-old Italian male with persistent diarrhoea who was diagnosed with Giardiasis and subsequently tested for HIV infection, resulting positive. In approaching young adults with persistent diarrhoea, lowering the threshold of suspicion for HIV infection proves useful.