Albendazole and Mebendazole as an Alternative Therapeutic Agent for Adult Giardiasis

Seyyed Javad Hosseini Shokouh and Mossa Ahmadi *

Infectious Diseases Research Center, AJA Univercity of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran

Corresponding Author E-mail : moses.ahmadi@yahoo.com

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/bbra/2121

ABSTRACT: We examined the therapeutic effects of albendazole. metronidazole and mebenazole 183  patients with giardiasis in Tehran Province. Patients were randomized to receive albendazole (400 mg, once daily for 5 days) or metronidazole (250 mg, 3 times a day for 5 days) or mebendazole (200 mg, 2 times a day for 5 days)  . Demographic data of the patients, results of stool exa­mination for Giardia (cyst or  trophozoites ) before and after treatment, and drug side-effects were recorded. The final results showed that albendazole (93%) and mebendazole ( 89% ) and metronidazole (95.5%) have similar therapeutic effects on giardiasis . Patients in the albendazole group(19.7%) had fewer side-effects compared with metronidazole (39%) & mebendazole groups (27%) . This difference is statistically significant (p < 0.01). We offer the albendazole as a grug of choice of giardiasis.

KEYWORDS: Albendazole; Mebendazole; Metronidazole; Giardiasis; Therapy

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