PEDIATRICS Vol. 118 No. 2 August 2006, pp. 528-535 (doi:10.1542/10.1542/peds.2006-0220)
ARTICLE |
A Randomized, Prospective, Comparison Study of Polyethylene Glycol 3350 Without Electrolytes and Milk of Magnesia for Children With Constipation and Fecal Incontinence
a Division of General Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
b Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
OBJECTIVE. Our aim was to compare 2 laxatives, namely, polyethylene glycol 3350 without electrolytes and milk of magnesia, evaluating the efficacy, safety, acceptance, and 1-year outcomes.
METHODS. Seventy-nine children with chronic constipation and fecal incontinence were assigned randomly to receive polyethylene glycol or milk of magnesia and were treated for 12 months in tertiary care pediatric clinics. Children were counted as improved or recovered depending on resolution of constipation, fecal incontinence, and abdominal pain after 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. An intent-to-treat analysis was used. Safety was assessed with evaluation of clinical adverse effects and blood tests.
RESULTS. Thirty-nine children were assigned randomly to receive polyethylene glycol and 40 to receive milk of magnesia. At each follow-up visit, significant improvement was seen in both groups, with significant increases in the frequency of bowel movements, decreases in the frequency of incontinence episodes, and resolution of abdominal pain. Compliance rates were 95% for polyethylene glycol and 65% for milk of magnesia. After 12 months, 62% of polyethylene glycol-treated children and 43% of milk of magnesia-treated children exhibited improvement, and 33% of polyethylene glycol-treated children and 23% of milk of magnesia-treated children had recovered. Polyethylene glycol and milk of magnesia did not cause clinically significant side effects or blood abnormalities, except that 1 child was allergic to polyethylene glycol.
CONCLUSIONS. In this randomized study, polyethylene glycol and milk of magnesia were equally effective in the long-term treatment of children with constipation and fecal incontinence. Polyethylene glycol was safe for the long-term treatment of these children and was better accepted by the children than milk of magnesia.
Key Words: polyethylene glycol • milk of magnesia • functional constipation • fecal incontinence • encopresis • children • long-term treatment
Abbreviations: PEG—polyethylene glycol • MOM—milk of magnesia • AST—aspartate aminotransferase • ALT—alanine aminotransferase
Accepted Mar 23, 2006.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Digg 
Facebook 
Reddit 
Technorati 
Twitter What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  S. Chung, A. Cheng, and R. D. Goldman Polyethylene glycol 3350 without electrolytes for treatment of childhood constipation Can Fam Physician, May 1, 2009; 55(5): 481 - 482. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 W. L. M. Robson Evaluation and Management of Enuresis N. Engl. J. Med., April 2, 2009; 360(14): 1429 - 1436. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M A M Pijpers, M M Tabbers, M A Benninga, and M Y Berger Currently recommended treatments of childhood constipation are not evidence based: a systematic literature review on the effect of laxative treatment and dietary measures Arch. Dis. Child., February 1, 2009; 94(2): 117 - 131. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D Candy and J Belsey Macrogol (polyethylene glycol) laxatives in children with functional constipation and faecal impaction: a systematic review Arch. Dis. Child., February 1, 2009; 94(2): 156 - 160. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
