Effect of Ginger on Nausea and Vomiting During Acute Gastroenteritis in Children
Effect of Ginger on Nausea and Vomiting During Acute Gastroenteritis in Children
The acute gastroenteritis is a very common problem in children. The frequency and duration of
 this condition involves a high discomfort for the child and his family, and significant
 costs, in connection with the purchase of therapeutic aids, medical visits, days of work lost
 by parents, requiring hospitalization. Vomiting is a typical symptom of the majority of the
 cases of acute gastroenteritis and is very often the cause of failure of oral rehydration use
 and hospitalization.

 To limit vomiting and facilitate oral rehydration have been proposed several pharmacological
 strategies. Unfortunately, these therapies are unsuccessful (domperidone), expensive and side
 effects (ondansetron and metoclopramide) and therefore contraindicated in patients of
 pediatric age.

 The administration of some medicinal herbs is able to induce an effective anti-emetic power.
 Among the various types of plants studied, the rhizome of Zingiber officinale, commonly known
 as ginger is used as an antiemetic in various traditional systems of medicine for over 2000
 years. There are several scientific evidence on the beneficial properties of ginger,
 including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic . It was also
 demonstrated that ginger is effective in resolving the post-operative nausea and vomiting and
 in pregnant. A recent meta-analysis has confirmed that ginger is effective in
 non-pharmacological treatment of nausea and vomiting in the early periods of pregnancy.

 To date there are several formulations of the ginger on the market in Italy, and their use is
 fairly widespread in children for the treatment of vomiting by acute gastroenteritis in the
 absence of clinical evidence of efficacy.

 The purpose of the proposed study is to demonstrate the effectiveness of treatment with
 ginger in reducing episodes of vomiting associated with acute gastroenteritis in children.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Children, both sexes, aged 1-10 years,

 -  Diagnosis of acute gastroenteritis (duration less than 24 hours they had at least one
 episode of vomiting (no bile, no blood) in the previous four hours, with mild-state of
 dehydration moderate).

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Children under 12 months of age and older than 10 years,

 -  concomitant presence of chronic diseases,

 -  malnutrition (z score for lower 3 standard deviations weight / height),

 -  severe dehydration,

 -  malformations of the gastrointestinal tract,

 -  malignancy,

 -  neurological diseases,

 -  metabolic diseases,

 -  eosinophilic esophagitis or other gastrointestinal diseases,

 -  history of functional dyspepsia or cyclic vomiting,

 -  history of abdominal surgery,

 -  history of food allergy ginger,

 -  renal failure and/or hypoalbuminemia