title: Dose response of PEG 3350 for the treatment of childhood fecal impaction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the efficacy and safety of polyethylene glycol (PEG) 3350 in the treatment of childhood fecal impaction.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective, double-blind, parallel, randomized study of 4 doses of PEG 3350; 0.25 g/kg per day, 0.5 g/kg per day, 1 g/kg per day, 1.5 g/kg per day, given for 3 days in children with constipation for >3 months and evidence of fecal impaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty patients completed the study (27 boys, median age 7.5, range 3.3-13.1 years). Disimpaction occurred in 75% of children, with a significant difference between the two higher doses and the lower doses (95% vs 55%, P <.005). All groups had an increased number of bowel movements during the 5-day study versus baseline, respectively: 6.5 versus 1.1 (P <.005), 8.0 versus 1.3 (P <.005), 10.9 versus 1.7 (P <.005), and 12.3 versus 1.4 (P <.005). Adverse effects included nausea (5%), vomiting (5%), bloating (18%), cramping (5%), and diarrhea (13%). Diarrhea and bloating were more prevalent (P <.02) in the higher-dose than in the lower-dose group. No clinically significant changes in electrolytes were noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 3-day administration of PEG 3350 is safe and effective in the treatment of childhood fecal impaction at doses of 1 and 1.5 g/kg per day.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Nader N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Youssef
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shultz-Peters
authors.forename: Danielle K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Lockhart
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Lorenzo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002400:Cathartics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005244:Fecal Impaction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D002400:Cathartics; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols