Dimenhydrinate in children with infectious gastroenteritis: a prospective, RCT.

OBJECTIVE: Vomiting is a common symptom in children with infectious gastroenteritis. It contributes to fluid loss and is a limiting factor for oral rehydration therapy. Dimenhydrinate has traditionally been used for children with gastroenteritis in countries such as Canada and Germany. We investiga...

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Main Authors: Uhlig, U, Pfeil, N, Gelbrich, G, Spranger, C, Syrbe, S, Huegle, B, Teichmann, B, Kapellen, T, Houben, P, Kiess, W, Uhlig, H
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 2009
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author Uhlig, U
Pfeil, N
Gelbrich, G
Spranger, C
Syrbe, S
Huegle, B
Teichmann, B
Kapellen, T
Houben, P
Kiess, W
Uhlig, H
author_facet Uhlig, U
Pfeil, N
Gelbrich, G
Spranger, C
Syrbe, S
Huegle, B
Teichmann, B
Kapellen, T
Houben, P
Kiess, W
Uhlig, H
author_sort Uhlig, U
collection OXFORD
description OBJECTIVE: Vomiting is a common symptom in children with infectious gastroenteritis. It contributes to fluid loss and is a limiting factor for oral rehydration therapy. Dimenhydrinate has traditionally been used for children with gastroenteritis in countries such as Canada and Germany. We investigated the efficacy and safety of dimenhydrinate in children with acute gastroenteritis. METHODS: We performed a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial. We randomly assigned 243 children with presumed gastroenteritis and vomiting to rectal dimenhydrinate or placebo. Children with no or mild dehydration were included. All children received oral rehydration therapy. Primary outcome was defined as weight gain within 18 to 24 hours after randomization. Secondary outcomes were number of vomiting episodes, fluid intake, parents' assessment of well-being, number of diarrheal episodes, and admission rate to hospital. We recorded potential adverse effects. RESULTS: Change of weight did not differ between children who received dimenhydrinate or placebo. The mean number of vomiting episodes between randomization and follow-up visit was 0.64 in the dimenhydrinate group and 1.36 in the placebo group. In total, 69.6% of the children in the dimenhydrinate group versus 47.4% in the placebo group were free of vomiting between randomization and the follow-up visit. Hospital admission rate, fluid intake, general well-being of the children, and potential adverse effects, including the number of diarrhea episodes, were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Dimenhydrinate reduces the frequency of vomiting in children with mild dehydration; however, the overall benefit is low, because it does not improve oral rehydration and clinical outcome.
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spelling oxford-uuid:678df446-d927-40ab-81bb-154dda532e882022-03-26T18:39:03ZDimenhydrinate in children with infectious gastroenteritis: a prospective, RCT.Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:678df446-d927-40ab-81bb-154dda532e88EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2009Uhlig, UPfeil, NGelbrich, GSpranger, CSyrbe, SHuegle, BTeichmann, BKapellen, THouben, PKiess, WUhlig, H OBJECTIVE: Vomiting is a common symptom in children with infectious gastroenteritis. It contributes to fluid loss and is a limiting factor for oral rehydration therapy. Dimenhydrinate has traditionally been used for children with gastroenteritis in countries such as Canada and Germany. We investigated the efficacy and safety of dimenhydrinate in children with acute gastroenteritis. METHODS: We performed a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial. We randomly assigned 243 children with presumed gastroenteritis and vomiting to rectal dimenhydrinate or placebo. Children with no or mild dehydration were included. All children received oral rehydration therapy. Primary outcome was defined as weight gain within 18 to 24 hours after randomization. Secondary outcomes were number of vomiting episodes, fluid intake, parents' assessment of well-being, number of diarrheal episodes, and admission rate to hospital. We recorded potential adverse effects. RESULTS: Change of weight did not differ between children who received dimenhydrinate or placebo. The mean number of vomiting episodes between randomization and follow-up visit was 0.64 in the dimenhydrinate group and 1.36 in the placebo group. In total, 69.6% of the children in the dimenhydrinate group versus 47.4% in the placebo group were free of vomiting between randomization and the follow-up visit. Hospital admission rate, fluid intake, general well-being of the children, and potential adverse effects, including the number of diarrhea episodes, were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Dimenhydrinate reduces the frequency of vomiting in children with mild dehydration; however, the overall benefit is low, because it does not improve oral rehydration and clinical outcome.
spellingShingle Uhlig, U
Pfeil, N
Gelbrich, G
Spranger, C
Syrbe, S
Huegle, B
Teichmann, B
Kapellen, T
Houben, P
Kiess, W
Uhlig, H
Dimenhydrinate in children with infectious gastroenteritis: a prospective, RCT.
title Dimenhydrinate in children with infectious gastroenteritis: a prospective, RCT.
title_full Dimenhydrinate in children with infectious gastroenteritis: a prospective, RCT.
title_fullStr Dimenhydrinate in children with infectious gastroenteritis: a prospective, RCT.
title_full_unstemmed Dimenhydrinate in children with infectious gastroenteritis: a prospective, RCT.
title_short Dimenhydrinate in children with infectious gastroenteritis: a prospective, RCT.
title_sort dimenhydrinate in children with infectious gastroenteritis a prospective rct
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