Haemoglobin concentrations and infection by Giardia intestinalis in children: effect of treatment with secnidazole.

Abstract

The blood concentrations of haemoglobin were investigated in 82 children aged 2-9 years. Fifty-seven (31 boys and 26 girls) were stool-positive for Giardia intestinalis but the other 25, used as controls, were negative. The mean (S.D.) haemoglobin concentration among the infected children was significantly lower pre-treatment than that for the control group [11.6 (1.2) v. 12.6 (1.5) g/dl; P < 0.05]. Treatment of the infected children with a single oral dose of secnidazole (30 mg/kg) led to a significant increase in their mean haemoglobin level 15 days later, from 11.6 (1.2) g/dl pre-treatment to 12.4 (1.2) g/dl post-treatment (P < 0.05). The results indicate that the therapeutic control of giardiasis could be important in programmes to combat anaemia in children living in endemic areas.

• Authors: J C Jiménez, N Rodríguez, M C Di Prisco, N R Lynch, V Costa
• Journal: Annals of tropical medicine and parasitology (Ann Trop Med Parasitol) Vol. 93 Issue 8 Pg. 823-7 (Dec 1999) ISSN: 0003-4983 [Print] England
• PMID: 10715676 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antiprotozoal Agents
• Hemoglobins
• Metronidazole
• secnidazole

Topics

• Anemia (blood, etiology, prevention & control)
• Antiprotozoal Agents (therapeutic use)
• Case-Control Studies
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Female
• Giardiasis (blood, complications, drug therapy)
• Hemoglobins (analysis)
• Humans
• Male
• Metronidazole (analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Treatment Outcome