EVALUATION OF ANTIGIARDIASIC EFFICACY OF ALBENDAZOLE IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN

  • P Villalobos Chair of Tropical Medicine. Medicine School. Faculty of Medicine. University of Zulia.
  • M Araujo Fernández Chair of Parasitology. Medicine School. Faculty of Medicine. University of Zulia.
  • J Castellano Chair of Tropical Medicine and Pediatrics. Medicine School. Faculty of Medicine. University of Zulia.
  • O Díaz Parasitology Laboratory Institute of Clinical Research. Faculty of Medicine. University of Zulia.
  • R Cheng Parasitology Laboratory Institute of Clinical Research. Faculty of Medicine. University of Zulia.
Keywords: Albendazole, Giardiasis, Preschool

Abstract

OBJETIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of albendazole in the treatment of Giardiasis in preschool children. DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY: 33 preschool children of both sexes enrolled in four Day Care Centers (DCC) located in San Francisco in the state of Zulia, diagnosed as having Giardiasis based on fecal samples from each child examined by direct exam using saline solution and lugol and/or the formaline-ether concentration method, received a single dose of 400 mg of albendazole for five consecutive days. Seven and fourteen days after the last dose of albendazole, a fecal sample was examined by direct exam and the formaline-ether concentration method. The Chi-square test was used to analysis the data. RESULTS: 69,7% of the children showed parasitic cure. No significant difference was evident among the variables: cure and age or cure and sex. As side effects, abdominal pain (12%) and headache (9%) were observed. A case of erratic migration of Ascaris lumbricoides was also observed. CONCLUSION: Every child who is going to enter to a DCC needs a fecal sample examined to diagnose Giardiasis which is transmited by direct contact, and should receive treatment. Albendazole is an alternative treatment when the imidazoles are no tolerated or are ineffective.

Published
2001-05-14
How to Cite
1.
Villalobos P, Araujo Fernández M, Castellano J, Díaz O, Cheng R. EVALUATION OF ANTIGIARDIASIC EFFICACY OF ALBENDAZOLE IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN. Kasmera [Internet]. 2001May14 [cited 2025May29];29(1). Available from: https://produccioncientificaluz.org/index.php/kasmera/article/view/4675
Issue
Vol. 29 No. 1 (2001)
Section
Original Articles

Copyright (c) 2001 P Villalobos, M Araujo Fernández, J Castellano, O Díaz, R Cheng

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