Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026
Ear Plaster Therapy as a Safe and Effective Treatment for Gestational Vomiting
Published on: August 4, 2023
Clinical trial: oral ondansetron for reducing vomiting secondary to acute gastroenteritis in children--a double-blind
H L Yilmaz1, R D Yildizdas, Y Sertdemir
1Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Medical School of Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey. hyilmaz@cu.edu.tr
Insights
Ondansetron effectively reduced vomiting in children with gastroenteritis. This antiemetic treatment is beneficial for reducing emesis and aiding oral rehydration in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Clinical Pharmacology
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Vomiting is a common symptom in children with gastroenteritis.
- The use of antiemetic drugs for vomiting in children with gastroenteritis is debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of ondansetron in treating vomiting associated with acute gastroenteritis in children.
- To determine if ondansetron offers beneficial effects in pediatric gastroenteritis management.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted.
- Children aged 5 months to 8 years received either ondansetron (0.2 mg/kg) or placebo every 8 hours.
- The primary outcome was the frequency of emesis within an 8-hour period post-enrollment.
Main Results:
- Ondansetron significantly reduced vomiting episodes compared to placebo.
- Children receiving ondansetron were less likely to vomit within the first 8 hours (RR: 0.33) and the subsequent 24 hours (RR: 0.15).
- The number needed to treat (NNT) for ondansetron was 2 for both follow-up periods.
Conclusions:
- Ondansetron appears to be an effective treatment for reducing vomiting in pediatric gastroenteritis.
- The drug is beneficial in managing emesis during both short-term (8-hour) and extended (24-hour) follow-up periods.
- Ondansetron may serve as a valuable adjunct to oral rehydration therapy in children.
Background:
Vomiting as a consequence of gastroenteritis frequently occurs in children. It is still debatable whether vomiting should be treated with antiemetic drugs.
Aim:
To investigate potential beneficial effects of ondansetron in treating vomiting during acute gastroenteritis.
Methods:
A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed in our emergency departments. Children, aged 5 months to 8 years, were randomized to receive either ondansetron 0.2 mg/kg or placebo at 8h intervals. The primary outcome measure was the frequency of emesis during an 8-h-period after enrollment.
Results:
A hundred and nine patients were enrolled; 54 received placebo and 55 received ondansetron. As compared with the children who received placebo, children who received ondansetron were less likely to vomit both during the first 8-h follow-up in the emergency department [relative risk (RR): 0.33, 95% CI: 0.19-0.56, NNT: 2, 95% CI: 1.6-3.5], and during the next 24-h follow-up (RR: 0.15, 95% CI: 0.07-0.33, NNT: 2, 95% CI: 1.3-2.1).
Conclusion:
Ondansetron may be an effective and efficient treatment that reduces the incidence of vomiting from gastroenteritis during both the first 8 h and the next 24 h, and is probably a useful adjunct to oral rehydration.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists
01:29Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Dopamine Receptor Antagonists
Phenothiazines, such as prochlorperazine...
01:28Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists
01:29Drug Dosing: Infants and Children
01:20Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Adsorbents as Antidiarrheal Agents
Adsorbents...
01:29Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease II: Clinical Features and Management
Clinical Manifestations
GERD presents itself in a multitude of ways, with symptoms varying from person to person. The hallmark symptoms are...