CAUTION Treatment with DEC should be closely supervised since allergic reactions are common and may be severe. |
Clinical features: It is an infection of the upper small intestine caused by the flagellate protozoan Giardia lamblia (or G. intestinalis). Infection with this flagellate is mainly asymptomatic. However when symptoms occur, they include acute and/or chronic diarrhoea, without blood or pus and malabsorption syndrome.
Treatment guidelines
Drug of choice |
Metronidazole (O) |
Adult |
2 g orally as a single dose for 3 days |
| |
Or |
Children |
400-500 mg orally every 8 hours for five days 10 mg/kg body weight every 8 hours for 7 days |
Second choice |
Tinidazole (O) |
Adult |
2 g orally as a single dose |
Children |
50-75 mg/kg body weight single dose. |
|
CAUTION
• Patients on Metronidazole should not take alcohol.
• Metronidazole is contraindicated in early pregnancy.
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