Giambi to be tested for possibly fatal disease

**Apprentice** · 07-26-2004, 04:15 PM

Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi is undergoing tests for a potentially fatal condition sometimes caused by intestinal parasites, his personal trainer told the Newark Star Ledger.

"He told me, 'I don't care about even hitting .220. I just want to feel better,' " Bob Alejo told the newspaper for a story published in Monday's editions. "He's exhausted, and it's not getting any better."

Giambi is being tested for a parasite called entamoeba histolytica, Alejo said, which can cause a potentially fatal condition called amebiasis. The parasite can be transmitted through water and food, among other ways, and it can embed itself in the intestinal lining, making it undetectable except by very specific tests, according to the Star Ledger's report.

Giambi has been tested for cancer and HIV in the last week. Both tests came back negative.

Giambi is scheduled to see another infectious disease specialist on Monday and will undergo specific tests for E. Histolytica, the newspaper reported. The results of those tests will determine whether the Yankees decide to put Giambi on the disabled list again.

There is concern that Giambi, who has missed 13 starts this season, might have to sit out the remainder of the season to rest. He's sat out four of New York's last five games; Giambi started at first base Friday in Boston but skipped the remaining two games of the series. He is hitless in his last 19 at-bats.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1846688

07-26-2004, 04:15 PM	#1
Apprentice You're Fired Posts: 338	Giambi to be tested for possibly fatal disease Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi is undergoing tests for a potentially fatal condition sometimes caused by intestinal parasites, his personal trainer told the Newark Star Ledger. "He told me, 'I don't care about even hitting .220. I just want to feel better,' " Bob Alejo told the newspaper for a story published in Monday's editions. "He's exhausted, and it's not getting any better." Giambi is being tested for a parasite called entamoeba histolytica, Alejo said, which can cause a potentially fatal condition called amebiasis. The parasite can be transmitted through water and food, among other ways, and it can embed itself in the intestinal lining, making it undetectable except by very specific tests, according to the Star Ledger's report. Giambi has been tested for cancer and HIV in the last week. Both tests came back negative. Giambi is scheduled to see another infectious disease specialist on Monday and will undergo specific tests for E. Histolytica, the newspaper reported. The results of those tests will determine whether the Yankees decide to put Giambi on the disabled list again. There is concern that Giambi, who has missed 13 starts this season, might have to sit out the remainder of the season to rest. He's sat out four of New York's last five games; Giambi started at first base Friday in Boston but skipped the remaining two games of the series. He is hitless in his last 19 at-bats. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1846688