Effects of Paromomycin Sulfate in Man Against Entamoeba Histolytica and Other Intestinal Protozoa

Abstract

Summary Thirty-two patients infected with Entamoeba histolytica and a variety of other intestinal protozoa were treated with paromomycin sulfate. Average doses of 15 mg/kg/day were given for 5 days and the patients were followed closely by stool examination for 10 weeks. The patients were part of a population in which intestinal protozoa were unusually prevalent. E. histolytica, E. hartmanni, E. coli, Endolimax nana, Iodamoeba bütschlii, Giardia lamblia, Chilomastix mesnili and Trichomonas hominis, all disappeared during treatment. E. histolytica recurred in 2 (of 32), I. bütschlii did not recur in any (of 15), but recurrences of the other protozoa were roughly proportional to their initial prevalence. Five-day mass treatment of cottage mates did not greatly influence recurrences.