Cyclic vomiting syndrome in children

Several children in my office have recurrent vomiting events and they usually end up in the emergency department for intravenous rehydration. One of them has been suffering from those attacks approximately once per month for the past 2 years, leading to a reduction in her quality of life. What is known about cyclic vomiting syndrome and can it be prevented?

Cyclic vomiting syndrome includes severe episodic vomiting lasting for hours or days, separated by symptom-free intervals. This gut-brain interaction is poorly understood and is difficult to diagnose. Children suffer from relentless vomiting, lethargy, abdominal pain, anorexia, and nausea. Half of the children require intravenous rehydration. Once diagnosis is made, supportive measures to reduce suffering are recommended and include administering fluids, encouraging sleep, promoting quiet environments, and administering antiemetics or sedatives. In adults, tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, as well as topiramate as second-line therapy, have been proposed for prophylactic treatment. However, pediatric data are very limited and evidence does not support any recommended course of prophylactic therapy for children with the condition.