A randomized trial comparing mebendazole and secnidazole for the treatment of giardiasis / Un ensayo aleatorio que compara el mebendazol y el secnidazol para el tratamiento de la giardiasis

To compare the eYcacy of the two drugs in the treatment of giardiasis, 146 children (aged 5–15 years) withconŽ rmed Giardia lamblia infection were randomly allotted to treatment with mebendazole (200 mg three times daily for 3 days) or secnidazole (30 mg/kg, in a single dose). Parasitological response to treatment was evaluated in each child by the microscopical examination of faecal samples collected 3, 5 and 7 days after he or she had completed treatment. Although the frequency of cure was higher for secnidazole (79.4por ciento) than for mebendazole (78.1por ciento), the diVerence was not statistically signiŽ cant (P>0.05). Both treatment regimens were well tolerated,with only mild, transient and self-limiting side-eVects reported. Mebendazole may be preferable to secnidazole in the treatment of giardiasis cases who have an history of intolerance to 5-nitromidazoles, and where infections with Giardia and soil-transmitted helminths frequently co-occur