Comparison of chloroquine, albendazole and tinidazole in the treatment of children with giardiasis.

Author(s): Escobedo AA, Nunez FA, Moreira I, Vega E, Pareja A, Almirall P

Affiliation(s): Departamento de Parasitologia, Hospital Pediatrico 'Pedro Borras', Calle F No 616 esquina a 27, Plaza Ciudad de La Habana, CP 10400, Cuba. escobedo@informed.sld.cu

Publication date & source: 2003-06, Ann Trop Med Parasitol., 97(4):367-71.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial

In a comparative trial, 165 Cuban children with confirmed giardiasis were randomized to receive albendazole (400 mg/day for 5 days), chloroquine (10 mg/kg twice daily for 5 days) or tinidazole (50 mg/kg, as a single dose). Parasitological follow-up was based on faecal samples collected 7 and 10 days after the completion of treatment. The tinidazole and chloroquine appeared equally effective (P > 0.05), curing 91% and 86% of the children treated, respectively, and significantly better (P < 0.01) than the albendazole, which only cured 62% of the children given it. All three drugs were well accepted and tolerated, with only mild, transient and self-limiting side-effects reported. Chloroquine appears to be a good alternative to tinidazole for the treatment of paediatric patients with giardiasis.