Brazilian Society of Pediatrics launches guide for the treatment of nausea and vomiting indicating the antiemetic ondasentrona
The Brazilian Society of Pediatrics has produced the practical guide "Evidence for the Management of Nausea and Vomiting in Pediatrics", to help pediatricians establish the exact diagnosis and the most appropriate course of action for children who present with vomiting due to different causes. Vomiting is always distressing for children and their families. It is a symptom common to many diseases and can be acute or chronic. "The pediatrician plays a fundamental role in identifying a child or adolescent who needs further investigation and is responsible for the therapeutic measures to be adopted in the initial assessment of the patient with vomiting," explains pediatric gastroenterologist Dr. Mauro Batista Morais, current president of the Gastroenterology Department of the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics.
Vomiting is one of the most frequent complaints in pediatric consultations and, together with nausea, can be a symptom of a manageable process or even the first manifestation of a serious process, as well as causing other problems such as dehydration and metabolic complications, in many cases requiring hospitalization. Dr. Mauro Morais warns that it is important to analyze each case, making a correct diagnosis, in order to propose specific treatment for the different diseases that cause vomiting, which is fundamental for controlling these manifestations.
If the condition is severe, accompanied by acute diarrhea, for example, caused by a virus or bacterial infection, it is appropriate to use an antiemetic product. "In the past, drugs in the antiemetic class were questioned by international and national bodies because they caused drowsiness. However, new scientific studies carried out in other countries and current meta-analyses have proven the efficacy of the antiemetic ondansetron, which does not cause drowsiness," explains the president of the Gastroenterology Department of the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics.
It is important to carefully assess patients with vomiting. Differential diagnosis is a major challenge in daily practice. Regular assessments in the early stages of vomiting ensure that serious illnesses are not overlooked and that complications such as dehydration are avoided," concludes Dr. Mauro Morais.