R. Decastro et al., RIFAXIMIN TREATMENT FOR ACUTE RECURRENT DIARRHEA IN CHILDREN WITH GENITOURINARY DISORDERS, Current therapeutic research, 59(10), 1998, pp. 746-752
Citations number
20
Categorie Soggetti
Pharmacology & Pharmacy","Medicine, Research & Experimental
This study was undertaken to investigate the suitability of rifaximin
for short-term treatment of acute bacterial diarrhea in children recei
ving long-term prophylactic therapy for urinary tract infections. Usin
g a 2:1 ratio, 46 children (mean age, 4.9 years) mere consecutively as
signed to receive either rifaximin oral suspension (n = 30) or oral re
hydration (control group, n = 16) for a maximum of 5 days. After 5 day
s, in the rifaximin groups, 15 patients (50.0%) mere clinically cured,
13 (43.3%) improved, and 2 (6.7%) had an insufficient outcome. In the
control group, 5 patients (31.2%) were clinically cured after 4 days,
2 patients (12.5%) improved after 5 days, 4 (25.0%) had a sufficient
outcome, and 5 (31.2%) had an insufficient outcome. Stools normalized
rapidly during treatment,vith rifaximin-formed stools were detected in
24 children (80.0%) on treatment day 1. Only 2 patients still had wat
ery stools after 5 days of treatment. In the control group, patients'
stools normalized after 4 days in 7 children (43.8%) and after 5 days
in 2 (12.5%); stools had not normalized by the end of the 5-day period
in the remaining 7 patients (43.8%). Overall, a quick and statistical
ly significant remission of fever and other clinical symptoms mas seen
with rifaximin. In the control group, symptoms were reduced more slow
ly. No adverse events, withdrawals, or dropouts occurred in the rifaxi
min group. The rapidity, effectiveness, and safety of rifaximin sugges
t that it is suitable for the treatment of acute recurrent episodes of
diarrhea in children periodically undergoing prophylactic therapy for
other genitourinary pathologic conditions.