giardiasis A contagious form of diarrhea caused by the parasite Giardia lamblia. Transmission is most common by direct contact with infected feces or by eating food or drinking water contaminated by feces. Giardia is one of the most common intestinal parasites in the world, and the disease is most prevalent in developing countries. Giardia is…
Giardia lamblia A parasite responsible for a common form of infectious diarrhea. The parasite lives in two stages: trophozoites and cysts. Trophozoites are the active form of the parasite inside the body. Cysts represent the resting stage that enables the parasite to survive outside the body. Infection begins from swallowing the Giardia cysts. The acid…
giant platelet syndrome See Bernard-Soulier syndrome.
giant cell tumor of bone A tumor of bone characterized by massive destruction of the end (epiphysis) of a long bone. The site most commonly involved by this tumor is the knee, both the far end of the femur and the near end of the tibia. The term “giant cell” reflects the fact that microscopic…
giant cell pneumonia See pneumonia, giant cell.
giant cell arteritis See arteritis, cranial.
GI tract See gastrointestinal tract.
gestational diabetes See diabetes, gestational.
gestation The period of time from conception to birth.
gestalt therapy An older psychotherapeutic concept that stresses understanding mental processes as holistic entities (gestalts) rather than as discrete steps. Gestalt therapy often uses group therapy techniques to help patients gain this type of insight. See also group therapy.
germinoma A rare cancer of the germ cells (the tissue that normally differentiates to become the eggs or sperm cells).
German measles immunization See MMR.