Ondansetron given by GP effective in children with stomach flu

Offering the drug ondansetron to vomiting children with stomach flu has been shown to be effective in reducing vomiting and thus preventing dehydration by the GP. This is apparent from a study that was conducted by general practitioners in the Northern Netherlands and coordinated by the Department of General Practice and Geriatric Medicine of the University Medical Center Groningen. It also leads to a reduction in healthcare costs. The results of this research have been published in The British Journal of General Practice.

Stomach flu affects almost all children under the age of five. Children with stomach flu have an increased risk of dehydration. The standard treatment for this consists of advice and the use of means to prevent dehydration. Ondansetron blocks the stimulation of the vomiting center and the brain, thereby reducing vomiting and the urge to vomit. It has already been shown to be effective in children hospitalized with stomach flu.

However, no research had yet been conducted into the effect of ondansetron in vomiting children with stomach flu who visit the GP. In this study, the researchers looked at the effect of ondansetron on vomiting in 194 children who reported to a GP from December 2015 to January 2018 with stomach flu and vomiting. They also examined the consequences for health care and social costs.

less sick

The results of this study show that children who received a sip of ondansetron syrup vomited twice as little as the children who received the standard treatment. This is important to prevent further dehydration. In addition, parents of children who received ondansetron were more satisfied with the treatment than parents of children who received the standard treatment. Furthermore, the results showed that the children who received ondansetron were less likely to go to the GP or the out-of-hours GP again. This resulted in a significant reduction in healthcare costs.

Less absenteeism for parents

In addition to the effect that ondansetron had on the children’s clinical picture, the researchers looked at the costs for care and society. With this research they show that the total costs of treatment with ondansetron are one third lower compared to treatments without ondansetron. This decrease in costs was mainly due to parents having to be absent from work less often. The difference was greatest among the mothers. Children who received ondansetron recovered more quickly, allowing parents to return to work faster.

Change in practice

Giving ondansetron under proper supervision to vomiting children with gastroenteritis effectively stops vomiting and reduces costs for health care and society. These results can further improve the quality and efficiency of general practitioner care. This research previously received a research grant from the ZonMw program ‘Good use of medicines’.

For the full publication in BJGP, see attached link: Oral ondansetron for paediatric gastroenteritis in primary care: a randomised controlled trial | British Journal of General Practice (bjgp.org)

Source: UMC/RUG

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