[Dientamoeba fragilis: possibly an important cause of persistent abdominal pain in children].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of an antiprotozoic treatment on children with persistent abdominal pain and infection with Dientamoeba fragilis.


METHODS
Retrospective.


METHODS
A total of 43 children with D. fragilis infection and persistent gastrointestinal complaints were included in the study. Of these 27 were treated with clioquinol and 16 with a nitroimidazole drug: metronidazole or tinidazole. The parasitological and clinical effects of the treatment were assessed.


RESULTS
In 33 of the 43 (77%) children, no parasites were detected during follow-up with a triple faeces test: 22/27 following treatment with clioquinol and 11/16 following treatment with a nitroimidazole drug. In 27 of the 33 (82%) children with a negative follow-up result, gastrointestinal complaints were considerably less or had completely disappeared. In 2 of the 10 (20%) children in which D. fragilis had not disappeared in the follow-up period, the complaints were less or had disappeared.


CONCLUSIONS
Effective treatment of D. fragilis infection in children with longstanding gastrointestinal complaints often resulted in a reduction or disappearance of the complaints.
Bosman
D K
DK
Academisch Medisch Centrum/Universiteit van Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam.
Benninga
M A
MA
van de Berg
P
P
Kooijman
G C
GC
van Gool
T
T
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology*; D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004029:Dientamoeba / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004030:Dientamoebiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents