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Contact Burn with Blister Formation in Children Treated with Sennosides
Kimberly Cogley1, Andrea Echevarria1, Catalina Correa1
1Colorectal Center for Children, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Insights
Children using sennosides for constipation can develop severe contact burns, especially when wearing diapers overnight. To prevent these burns, administer sennosides to allow daytime bowel movements, not during sleep.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Dermatology
- Adverse Drug Reactions
Background:
- Sennosides are commonly prescribed stimulant laxatives for managing pediatric constipation.
- Severe constipation in children often requires consistent and effective treatment regimens.
Observation:
- A cohort of eight pediatric patients experienced unexpected contact burns with blisters.
- These injuries were directly linked to the overnight use of sennosides while wearing diapers.
Findings:
- The use of sennosides in children, particularly those who are diapered, can lead to severe skin irritation and blistering.
- Overnight administration appears to be a critical factor in the development of these adverse events.
Implications:
- Healthcare providers should exercise caution when prescribing sennosides to diapered children.
- Adjusting the timing of sennoside administration to facilitate daytime bowel movements may prevent these serious side effects.
Abstract:
Eight children treated for severe constipation with sennosides unexpectedly developed contact burns with blisters secondary to the use of these laxatives. All patients wore diapers, and the injuries occurred overnight. To avoid this side effect, we recommend that patients treated with sennosides, especially those in diapers, receive the medication at a time that allows for bowel movements to occur during the day and not overnight.
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