PEDIATRICS Vol. 96 No. 2 August 1995, pp. 235-238
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by James, L. P.
Right arrow Articles by King, W. D.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by James, L. P.
Right arrow Articles by King, W. D.

A Comparison of Cathartics in Pediatric Ingestions

Laura Phillips James MD1, Michele H. Nichols MD1, and William D. King RPh, MPH, DrPH1

1 Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and The Children's Hospital of Alabama, Birmingham, AL

Objective. To compare the mean time to first stool, number of stools, and side effects of three commonly used cathartics in pediatric ingestions.

Design. This prospective clinical trial was a randomized, double-blinded comparison of sorbitol, magnesium citrate, magnesium sulfate, and water, administered with activated charcoal in the treatment of pediatric patients 1 to 5 years of age with acute ingestions. Outcome parameters were mean time to first stool, mean number of stools during 24 hours, and side effects.

Results. One hundred sixteen patients completed the study. Significant differences in mean time to the first stool were detected among cathartic agents (F = 9.29), with sorbitol-treated patients having a shortest mean time to the first stool (mean, 8.48 hours). Sorbitol produced a significantly higher number of stools (mean, 2.79) in the 24-hour follow-up period than other cathartics (F = 3.49). The most common side effect of cathartic administration was emesis, which occurred more commonly in sorbitol-treated patients.

Conclusion. Sorbitol, when administered with activated charcoal in the treatment of children with acute ingestions, produced a shorter time to first stool and more stools than magnesium citrate, magnesium sulfate, or water.

Submitted on March 28, 1994
Accepted on November 4, 1994




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 NEJMHome page
M. Shannon
Ingestion of Toxic Substances by Children
N. Engl. J. Med., January 20, 2000; 342(3): 186 - 191.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 JWatch GeneralHome page
WHICH CATHARTIC IS BEST FOR PEDIATRIC POISONING?
Journal Watch (General), August 29, 1995; 1995(829): 5 - 5.
[Full Text]