Giardiasis medical therapy
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Giardiasis Microchapters |
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Diagnosis |
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Giardiasis medical therapy On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Giardiasis medical therapy |
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Risk calculators and risk factors for Giardiasis medical therapy |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Drugs used to treat adults include metronidazole, albendazole and quinacrine. Furazolidone and nitazoxanide may be used in children. Treatment is not always necessary, as the body can defeat the infection by itself.
Medical Therapy
The drug tinidazole has a long half life and a single dose of 2000 mg is effective in 90% of patients. This obviates the longer treatment using the other medications listed. The shorter duration of treatment may also cause less patient distress. Tinidazole is now approved by the FDA and available to U.S. patients. Tinidazole is approved for the treatment of Giardiasis in patients over three years of age. If a child is unable to swallow the tablets, they can be crushed and mixed with a favorite food or with syrup. Side effects of tinidazole include nausea, vomiting, headache, the development of a metallic taste in the mouth and disulfiram-like side effects. Gatrointestinal side effects can be minimized by taking tinidazole with food.