Antiamoebic drugs for treating amoebic colitis
Tinidazole is more effective in reducing clinical failure compared with metronidazole and has fewer associated adverse events. Combination drug therapy is more effective in reducing parasitological failure compared with metronidazole alone. However, these results are based on trials with poor methodological quality so there is uncertainty in these conclusions.
Metronidazole is currently the drug of choice for treating invasive amoebiasis in adults and children, but it may not be sufficient to eliminate parasite cysts in the intestine. Combinations with other drugs are therefore also used. Also, some unpleasant adverse effects associated with metronidazole in some patients, and the possibility of parasite resistance to metronidazole have to be considered. This review evaluates antiamoebic drugs for treating amoebic colitis.
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