[Intestinal parasitoses].

Abstract

While intestinal parasites are infrequent causes of acute diarrhea, investigations in travellers, children, homosexuals and immunocompromised persons who have had diarrhea for more than 2-4 weeks should include stool analyses for intestinal parasites. Intestinal helminthiases are treated with pyrantel pamoate, mebendazole, thiabendazole, albendazole, praziquantel or niclosamide. For treatment of intestinal protozoa, ornidazole (or other benzimidazoles), diloxanide furoate and co-trimoxazole are drugs of first choice; at present spiramycin is recommended for treatment of cryptosporidiosis in AIDS patients. When infections or symptoms persist after treatment, re-infection or immunodeficiency should be considered.