Controlled comparison of nalidixic acid or lactulose with placebo in shigellosis.

Nalidixic acid and lactulose, respectively, were compared with placebo in a controlled double-blind study in 43 patients with bacteriologically verified shigellosis. All the strains were susceptible to nalidixic acid. Treatment with nalidixic acid resulted in cure in 72%, which was a significantly better result than with placebo (cure in 21%).