To :    Sara C. Reuning
Re :    Giardia

        Nelson's pocketbook of pediatric antimicrobial therapy suggests
Furazolidone or metronidazole for giardia infections. Flagyl(metronidazole)
is generally preferred in the US today. However,  the 2 gm STAT dose is
only recommended for vaginal trichonomiasis, NOT other infectious syndromes
such as giardia.  The TID dosage for 7-8 days is generally required for
this syndrome.  As to stopping breastfeeding during this exposure to
metronidazole, this is only slightly controversial,  most clinicians let
the mom continue to breastfeed.  Following a 250 mg dose TID,  the average
milk concentration is only 6 mg/Liter of milk,  far to low to harm and
infant.

        We know very little about furazolidone,  no data yet exists on its
concentration in breastmilk.  I doubt it is any more effective than Flagyl,
with which we have a great deal of experience.

Tom Hale