DIVERSE EFFECTS OF ANTIEMETICS IN CHILDREN

Aims. To present cases of dystonic reactions in paediatric patients re lated to the use of antiemetics and to remind practitioners of the pot ential hazards of these agents in the paediatric age group. Method. Di scussion of the presentations of three children at the Middlemore Hosp ital emergency department with neurological symptoms after exposure to prochlorperazine or metoclopramide and one child with a possible phen othiazine ingestion. Results. These cases illustrate that some physici ans are unaware of the potential hazards of antiemetics in children Co nclusions. Physicians prescribing antiemetics for children presenting with viral gastroenteritis should carefully consider the risks and ben efits of these medications. If the drugs are prescribed, instructions about possible side effects should be emphasised so that corrective tr eatment can be initiated promptly. A full drug history should be obtai ned on all patients presenting to emergency departments. In addition, the emergency physician evaluating children with unusual neurological symptoms should always consider the possibility of an acute extrapyram idal reaction.