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World J Gastroenterol. Oct 21, 2006; 12(39): 6366-6370
Published online Oct 21, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i39.6366
Randomized clinical study of five days apostrophe therapy with mebendazole compared to quinacrine in the treatment of symptomatic giardiasis in children
Roberto Cañete, Angel A Escobedo, María E González, Pedro Almirall
Roberto Cañete, Hygiene, Epidemiology and Microbiology Centre, Matanzas City, Cuba
Angel A Escobedo, Academic Paediatric Hospital "Pedro Borrás", Havana City, Cuba
María E González, Institute of Gastro-enterology, Havana City, Cuba
Pedro Almirall, "Pedro Kourí" Institute, Havana City, Cuba
Correspondence to: Dr Angel A Escobedo, Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Hospital Pediátrico Universitario “Pedro Borrás”, Calle F No. 616 esquina a 27, Plaza, Ciudad de La Habana, CP 10400, Cuba. escobedo@infomed.sld.cu
Telephone: +53-7-8351752 Fax: +53-7-8301042
Received: January 26, 2006
Revised: January 28, 2006
Accepted: May 22, 2006
Published online: October 21, 2006
Abstract

AIM: To compare the efficacy and safety of five days apostrophe therapy of mebendazole (MBZ) versus quinacrine (QC) on human giardiasis in children.

METHODS: A clinical trial was carried out in paediatric patients (aged 5-15 years) with confirmed symptomatic G. duodenalis mono-infection. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either MBZ [200 mg taken three times per day (TID) (n = 61)] or QC [2 mg/kg bodyweight tid (n = 61)], both for five days. Follow-up faecal samples were obtained at 3, 5 and 7 d after the end of the treatment.

RESULTS: Although the frequency of cure was higher for QC (83.6%) than for MBZ (78.7%), the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Adverse events were reported more in the QC group (P < 0.05), all of them transient and self-limiting.

CONCLUSION: Despite final cure rates ocurring lower than expected, the overall results of this study reconfirmed the efficacy of MBZ in giardiasis and also indicate that, although comparable to QC, at least in this setting the 5 d course of MBZ did not appear to improve the cure rates in this intestinal parasitic infection.

Keywords: Giardia infection/drug therapy; Children; Mebendazole/therapeutic use; Quinacrine/therapeutic use; Benzimidazoles/therapeutic use; Giardiasis/drug therapy; Cuba