Single Dose Therapy of Giardiasis with Tinidazole and Metronidazole

Summary

In random order, a single dose of either tinidazole or metronidazole, calculated as 50mg/kg body weight, was given to 100 children with symptomatic giardiasis. Follow-up was done for 16 days and consisted of 4 clinical, parasitological and biochemical assessments at intervals of 4 days. The actual mean dose of the drugs received by the patients was 55.5mg/kg of tinidazole and 52.0mg/kg of metronidazole. Success, i.e. parasitic clearance and symptomatic relief was achieved in 80 % of patients given tinidazole as opposed to 36 % of patients given metronidazole (p < 0.01). Moreover, control of diarrhoea and negative stool conversion for G. lamblia occurred earlier with tinidazole than with metronidazole (p < 0.01). The incidence of gastrointestinal side-effects was 12% for tinidazole and 4% for metronidazole. Neither drug caused any abnormality of the blood count, blood urea, urine analysis or liver function tests.