bismuth-subsalicylate and Gastroenteritis

ORS has led to improved outcome of acute gastroenteritis in both industrialised and developing countries. In both settings there is an increasing demand for active therapy to reduce the duration of diarrhoea and its complications. Persistent diarrhoea is a major consequence of intestinal infections and is responsible for a high number of deaths in poor countries. Bismuth subsalicylate has been used for treatment of acute diarrhoea, with preliminary promising results. In this issue of Acta Paediatrica, a trial with BSS is essential. However the results were marginal and did not justify a mass scale use of BSS, also because of poor cost efficacy rate.

Topics: Acute Disease; Bismuth; Child, Preschool; Diarrhea; Gastroenteritis; Humans; Infant; Organometallic Compounds; Rehydration Solutions; Salicylates

The therapeutic efficacy of bismuth subsalicylate was examined in a randomized double-blind fashion in 59 volunteers who were inoculated with Norwalk agent. Sixty-eight percent of the volunteers demonstrated seroconversion; 57% became ill. The severity and duration of the illness in 32 volunteers in the treatment and placebo groups were compared. Significant reduction in the severity and duration of abdominal cramps (P less than 0.01) and in the median duration of GI symptoms (P less than 0.05) was noted in the treatment group. There was no difference in the number, weight, or water content of stools, or in the rate of viral excretion between the two groups. The median duration of illness was 20 hr in the treatment group and 27 hr in the placebo group (0.1 greater than P greater than 0.05).

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Antibodies, Viral; Bismuth; Double-Blind Method; Female; Gastroenteritis; Gastrointestinal Agents; Humans; Male; Organometallic Compounds; Parvoviridae; Random Allocation; Salicylates; Virus Diseases

Topics: Acute Disease; Bismuth; Child; Child, Preschool; Evidence-Based Medicine; Gastroenteritis; Humans; Infant; Organometallic Compounds; Safety; Salicylates; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bismuth; Drug Therapy, Combination; Eczema; Gastroenteritis; Helicobacter Infections; Helicobacter pylori; Humans; Male; Metronidazole; Middle Aged; Organometallic Compounds; Recurrence; Salicylates; Tetracycline