Randomized clinical study of nitazoxanide compared to metronidazole in the treatment of symptomatic giardiasis in children from Northern Peru.
BACKGROUND: Enteric infection by Giardia intestinalis is a common cause of diarrhoea world-wide and a significant cause of morbidity in children. AIM: To compare the efficacy and safety of nitazoxanide and metronidazole in the treatment of diarrhoea caused by G. intestinalis in children. METHODS: A total of 110 children presenting with diarrhoea caused by G. intestinalis were randomized to treatment with either a 3-day course of nitazoxanide (100 mg b.d., age range 2-3 years; 200 mg b.d., age range 4-11 years) or a 5-day course of metronidazole (125 mg b.d., age range 2-5 years; 250 mg b.d., age range 6-11 years). The patients were followed-up for a determination of clinical response 7 days after the initiation of treatment, and two subsequent stool samples were collected for parasitological examination. RESULTS: Diarrhoea had resolved in 47 children out of 55 (85%) in the nitazoxanide treatment group before the day 7 follow-up visit, compared to 44 out of 55 (80%) for metronidazole. Diarrhoea resolved within 4 days in most cases. Only mild, transient adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: A 3-day course of nitazoxanide suspension is as efficacious as a standard 5-day course of metronidazole suspension in treating giardiasis in children.[1]References
- Randomized clinical study of nitazoxanide compared to metronidazole in the treatment of symptomatic giardiasis in children from Northern Peru. Ortiz, J.J., Ayoub, A., Gargala, G., Chegne, N.L., Favennec, L. Aliment. Pharmacol. Ther. (2001) [Pubmed]
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