title: Comparative Study of the Efficacy and Tolerability of Secnidazole Suspension (single dose) and Tinidazole Suspension (two days dosage) in the Treatment of Amebiasis in Children.
abstract: Amebiasis caused by Entamoeba histolytica may be considered the most aggressive parasitic disease affecting human intestine, causing acute amoebic colitis and extra-intestinal diseases of high morbidity and mortality. 5-nitroimidazoles are the drugs of choice. In this multicenter, open and random clinical trial, the efficacy and tolerability of secnidazole suspension in a single oral dose of 1ml/kg was compared with 0.5ml/kg doses of tinidazole suspension given for 2 consecutive days to 303 Entamoeba histolytica-positive children aged 2 to 13. Patients with extra-intestinal complications were excluded from the study. Clinical and parasitological follow-up using the Faust and Kato-Katz method were carried out 7, 14, and 21 days after treatment. Clinical improvement/cure was observed in 93% of the patients in the secnidazole group and 91% in the tinidazole group. Parasitological success was reported for 77% and 63% of the secnidazole and tinidazole patients, respectively, showing a significant statistical difference between the two groups (p=0.007). Both drugs were well tolerated, and the adverse effects reported were mild, consisting mainly of digestive disturbances. This comparative study showed that a single oral dose of 1ml/kg of secnidazole produced a significantly higher parasitological cure rate than 2 doses of tinidazole. Secnidazole is a safe and effective drug for the treatment of uncomplicated intestinal amebiasis.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Pará.
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Salles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bechara
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tavares
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Sobrinho
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dietrich-Neto
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Costa