A comparison of a short course of single daily dosage therapy of tinidazole with metronidazole in intestinal amoebiasis.

Sixty patients with symptomatic intestinal amoebiasis were treated for 3 days with a single dose of 2 g of either tinidazole or metronidazole respectively by random order. Tinidazole cured 90% of patients (27/30) an metronidazole cured 53.3% of patients (16/30). The difference was significant (p less than 0-01). Mild side-effect were reported by 26-7% of patients (8/30) in the tinidazole group as compared to mild to moderated side-effects reported by 53.3% of patients (16/30) in the metronidazole group. The difference was statistically significant (p less than 0-05). As the average patient has only a limited understanding and toleration of extended treatment courses, the advantages of a short course employing a single daily dose are obvious. With such a regimen, tinidazole was found to be superior to metronidazole in intestinal amoebiasis.