Study design varies according to the purpose of the study. The main
outcome of this study [1] was to assess the efficacy of IV ondansetron
in decreasing the need of infusion more than its antiemetic effects;
thus, ondansetron was compared with placebo instead of comparison with
oral formulation or other antiemetic drugs.
Persistent vomiting in this context meant vomiting
several times. However, administration of intravenous fluids depended on
the treating physician’s decision.
It is true that in young children, monitoring and
assessment of fluid intake are difficult. After 4 hour admission, if the
child was alert and had no signs of dehydration, it was considered as
adequate rehydration.
All of cases included in this study were having acute
watery, non-bloody diarrhea; 44.3% of cases caused by rotavirus, and
there was no difference between the two groups. The duration from having
the first symptom of diarrhea to hospitalization was similar between the
two groups. The median (IQR) duration of diarrhea before admission was
20 (16, 20) hours in the ondansetron group, compared with 18 (12, 22) in
the placebo group (P=0.760).
