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Polyethylene glycol 3350 plus electrolytes for chronic constipation in children: a double blind, placebo controlled,

M A Thomson1, H R Jenkins, W M Bisset

  • 1Centre for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Sheffield Children's Hospital, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK. Mike.Thomson@sch.nhs.uk

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|July 13, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Polyethylene glycol 3350 plus electrolytes (PEG+E) significantly improved bowel movements and reduced straining in children with chronic constipation. This treatment was found to be safe and well-tolerated compared to placebo.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Clinical Pharmacology

Background:

  • Chronic constipation is a common pediatric condition impacting quality of life.
  • Effective and safe treatment options are crucial for managing pediatric constipation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy and safety of polyethylene glycol 3350 plus electrolytes (PEG+E) for treating chronic constipation in children.
  • To compare PEG+E with placebo in a pediatric population.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial was conducted across six UK pediatric departments.
  • The study included 51 children aged 24 months to 11 years with chronic constipation.
  • Key outcome measures included complete bowel movements per week, stool consistency, and pain associated with defecation.

Main Results:

  • Children receiving PEG+E experienced a significantly higher mean number of complete bowel movements per week compared to placebo (3.12 vs. 1.45).
  • PEG+E also demonstrated significant improvements in total bowel movements, reduced pain and straining during defecation, and improved stool consistency.
  • Treatment-related adverse events were mild or moderate and occurred with similar frequency in both PEG+E and placebo groups.

Conclusions:

  • Polyethylene glycol 3350 plus electrolytes (PEG+E) is a significantly more effective treatment for chronic constipation in children than placebo.
  • PEG+E is demonstrated to be safe and well-tolerated in this pediatric population.
Abstract

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