Tinidazole in the treatment of infections of the upper respiratory tract.

Sixteen patients with primary or secondary anaerobic infections of the maxillary sinus, mouth and throat were treated with tinidazole. The peak plasma concentration in eight patients given 2 g tinidazole initially followed by 1 g daily on the 5 subsequent days varied between 15 and 48 microgram/ml the first day and were only slightly lower during the following days. The mixed saliva/plasma concentration ratios ranged between 0.2 and 1.8 with a mean value of 0.85. In eight patients with anginose infectious mononucleosis, a rapid improvement was observed after the onset of treatment. Normal body temperature and well-being was restored within 3 to 5 days. No bacteria considered to be involved in the infection of the throat were isolated from these patients, and it, therefore, seems unlikely that the clinical benefit is attributable only to antibacterial activity of tinidazole. Anaerobic infections in five patients with purulent maxillary sinusitis, two patients with acute exacerbation of atrophic pharyngitis and one patient with a necrotic ulcer of the tongue, were treated successfully with tinidazole.