From the Guidelines
Diloxanide furoate should be used as a luminal amoebicide at a dose of 500 mg orally three times a day for 10 days to reduce the risk of relapse in patients with intestinal amebiasis. This recommendation is based on the study published in the Journal of Infection in 2009 1, which emphasizes the importance of using a luminal amoebicide after treatment with tinidazole or metronidazole to prevent relapse. The use of diloxanide furoate is particularly important in asymptomatic carriers of Entamoeba histolytica, as it helps eliminate cyst passage and prevent disease transmission.
Key Points
- Diloxanide furoate is used to treat intestinal amebiasis, particularly in asymptomatic carriers of Entamoeba histolytica.
- The standard adult dosage is 500 mg taken orally three times daily for 10 days.
- It works by acting directly against the trophozoites of E. histolytica in the intestinal lumen.
- Common side effects include flatulence, abdominal discomfort, and occasional nausea.
- It is contraindicated during pregnancy and should be used cautiously in patients with liver disease.
Treatment Considerations
- Diloxanide furoate is not effective against extraintestinal amebiasis and is often used in combination with metronidazole for patients with both intestinal and extraintestinal disease.
- Treatment success should be confirmed with follow-up stool examinations to ensure clearance of the parasite, as recommended in the study 1.
- The study also notes that most patients will respond to treatment within 72-96 hours, and surgical or percutaneous drainage is rarely required 1.
From the Research
Overview of Dilixanide
- There is no direct information available on Dilixanide in the provided studies.
- However, the studies discuss various treatments for gastrointestinal infections and helminth diseases, which may be relevant to understanding the context of Dilixanide.
Alternative Treatments
- Albendazole is mentioned as a broad-spectrum anthelminthic for the treatment of individuals and populations 2.
- Nitazoxanide is discussed as a treatment option for gastrointestinal infections, including protozoal and helminthic infections 3.
- Metronidazole is mentioned as a common treatment for giardiasis, but alternative regimens such as albendazole and tinidazole are also discussed 4.
Treatment of Gastrointestinal Infections
- The treatment of gastrointestinal infections, including those caused by Clostridium difficile, is discussed in several studies 4, 5, 3.
- New antibiotics and treatment options are being developed for the selective treatment of gastrointestinal infections 5.