Management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
BACKGROUND
Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is a significant problem in the treatment of children with cancer. The last decade has seen a variety of newer antiemetics being evaluated for CINV; their efficacy and side effects need to be assessed in children. This article attempts to highlight this revised management of CINV.


METHODS
Online search; journals. Search period: 6 months.


RESULTS
Newer drugs (aprepitant, fosapritant and newer 5HT3 antagonists) have been found to be effective in CINV: both acute and delayed phases. Most of the available literature is, however, based on adult oncology patients, with a few trials on adolescent patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Every child receiving treatment for cancer should be evaluated for possible CINV. Their treatment should take into account the emetogenic potential of the chemotherapeutic drugs. Newer antiemetic drugs have good efficacy and can be tried in pediatric patients, especially in children > 11 years of age.
Department of Pediatrics, UCMS and GTB Hospital, Delhi 110 095, India. poojadewan@hotmail.com
Pooja
P
Dewan
Swati
S
Singhal
Deepika
D
Harit
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*
D000932:Antiemetics; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents