Treatment of intestinal amoebiasis with diloxanide furoate, tetracycline and chloroquine

Abstract

100 patients complaining of intestinal disturbances were treated, 57 showed E. histolytica trophozoites and 43 had cysts in the stools. Most had from 2–5 different intestinal parasites, besides E. histolytica. Half of the group received formulation A, containing diloxanide furoate B.P., tetracycline hydrochloride B.P. and chloroquine phosphate B.P., and half received formulation B, containing diloxanide furoate B.P. and tetracycline hydrochloride. All patients were treated for 5 days. Stools were examined on days 1, 5 and 10 after treatment, by direct and concentration methods. The overall cure rate was 83%. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups treated with formulations A and B, or between the groups treated with 4 and 8 capsules per day, or between patients harbouring trophozoites and those showing cysts in the stools. The drug reduced the frequency of Entamoeba coli infections. There was no apparent effect on other protozoa or helminths. The clinical improvement of the patients was striking and the drug was very well tolerated.