title: An audit of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in children.
abstract: An audit was conducted of the management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in children and young people in the national Irish paediatric cancer unit. Over three months, the anti-emetic medication and the incidence of nausea and vomiting in 50 consecutive patient episodes were recorded among 25 children receiving chemotherapy for diverse malignancies. Anti-emetic prescription was found to be unrelated to the emetogenic potential of the chemotherapy received, so that effectiveness varied. Dexamethasone was used in only one case. Twenty children did not take any anti-emetics following discharge, although 11 experienced delayed vomiting, evidence-based guidelines were established and now include anti-emetic prescription that is proportional to the emetogenic potential of the chemotherapeutic regimen. It is also recommended that staff, patients, families and carers should receive education about the need for prescription and use of anti-emetics after discharge.
authors.affiliation: Haematology Oncology Unit, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. frieda.clinton@olchc.ie
authors.forename: Frieda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Clinton
authors.forename: Maura
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dowling
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capra
mesh_terms: D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents