To compare the efficacy of 3 days treatment with Nitazoxanide vs 5 days treatment with Metronidazole in treating children with diarrhea caused by Giardia-lamblia.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of 3 days treatment with Nitazoxanide vs 5 days treatment with Metronidazole in treating children with diarrhea caused by Giardia-lamblia. Study Design: Randomized Controlled Trial Study. Setting: Department of Pediatric, Women & Children Hospital MTI Bannu. Period: December 15, 2019 to May 15, 2020. Material & Methods: All 230 children meeting inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study through OPD or emergency. Written informed consent was taken and questionnaire was filled from parents. Complete history and physical examination were done for all included children upon arrival. The patients were divided into two groups. All the children were randomly assigned to either group by lottery method. Group-A was the experimental group and had received Nitazoxanide. Group-B was the control group and had received Metronidazole. The children had received 15 mg/kg/day of Nitazoxanide twice daily for 3 days; or 30 mg/kg/day of Metronidazole thrice daily for 5 days as per group. On follow-up patients were assessed for clinical improvement that is for resolution of diarrhea & Stool sample was collected for the presence of Giardia cysts or trophozoites. Results: Two groups were analyzed after two days of completion of therapy as in Group-A 104 children had resolution of diarrhea while 11 didn’t had resolution. Whereas in Group-B 107 children had resolution of diarrhea while 8 children didn’t had resolution. Conclusion: Nitazoxanide (90%) & Metronidazole (92%) were almost equally effective in treating diarrhea caused by Giardia-lamblia.