0300-7995 doi:10.1185/030079906X132497
Current Medical Research and Opinion® Vol. 22, No. 11, 2006, 2131–2136 © 2006 LibraPharm Limited
All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted
BRIEF REPORT
A randomized, controlled, open-label trial of a single day of mebendazole versus a single dose of tinidazole in the treatment of giardiasis in children Roberto Cañete a, Angel A. Escobedo b, Maria Elena González c, Pedro Almirall d and Nereyda Cantelar e Cuban Institute of Gastroenterology, Havana City, Cuba; Centre for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Microbiology, Matanzas City, Cuba
a
Academic Pediatric Hospital ‘Pedro Borras’, Havana City, Cuba
b
Cuban Institute of Gastroenterology, Havana City, Cuba
c
Carlos J. Finlay Hospital, Havana City, Cuba
d
Pedro Kourí Institute, Havana City, Cuba
e
Address for correspondence: Roberto Cañete MD, MSc (Parasitology), Cuban Institute of Gastroenterology, Calle 25 No. 597 esquina a I, Plaza de La Revolución, Ciudad de La Habana, CP 10400, Cuba. Tel.: +53‑7‑8325594; Fax: +53‑7‑8301042; email:
[email protected] Key words: Benzimidazoles – Children – Giardia duodenalis – Mebendazole – Tinidazole
ABSTRACT
Background: Giardia duodenalis is the most commonly detected parasite in the intestinal tract of humans and 5‑nitroimidazole compounds, quinacrine and furazolidone have been used against giardiasis. However, cases refractory to treatment with these drugs are becoming more common worldwide. Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of mebendazole versus tinidazole in the treatment of giardiasis. Research design and methods: 122 children (aged 5 to 15 years) of both sexes with confirmed Giardia duodenalis cysts or trophozoites in their stool samples were randomly separated into two groups of 61 individuals. Each group received either mebendazole 200 mg three times for 1 day or tinidazole 50 mg/kg in a single dose. The evaluation of the efficacy was based on parasitological response. Parents or legal
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guardians of each child were asked to provide three fecal samples on days 3, 5, and 7 after treatment completion. A child was considered to be cured, if no Giardia trophozoites or cysts were found in any of the three post-treatment fecal specimens evaluated by direct wet mounts and/or after Ritchie concentration techniques. Results: The frequency of cure was higher for tinidazole (81.97%) than for mebendazole (63.93%); the difference was statistically significant ( p
