Single-dose treatment of giardiasis in children a comparison of tinidazole and metronidazole

Summary

One hundred children suffering from symptomatic giardiasis were treated with either tinidazole or metronidazole in random order. Both the drugs were given as a single oral dose calculated on the basis of 50 mgjkg body weight. Parasitological and clinical cure was obtained in 40 (80%) of 50 patients given tinidazole and in 18 (36%) of 50 patients given metronidazole. This difference in cure rates was significant (p<0.01). Furthermore, control of diarrhoea and negative stool conversion for G. lamblia were achieved earlier with tinidazole than with metronidazole, the differences being significant (p < 0.01) from the 8th post-treatment day. Gastro-intestinal side-effects of mild degree occurred in 6patients on tinidazole and in 2 patients on metronidazole; they comprised nausea, vomiting, and bitter taste. Neither drug caused any abnormal deviation in blood counts or in biochemical tests of liver and kidney function.