Anti-diarrhoeal drugs.

ABSTRACT

Drugs that have been used or investigated in the treatment of diarrhoea in infancy were presented, such as stool thickening agent kaolin-pectin, anti-motility agent loperamide, anti-secretory agents such as chlorpromazine, aspirin, indomethacin, and antibiotics. Also treatment with oral rehydration solution was discussed from studies carried out. The present clinical studies demonstrate that most of anti-diarrhoeal drugs are not superior than the usual mode of fluid therapy in the treatment of infantile diarrhoea. The use of these anti-diarrhoeal drugs in the community, therefore, should be considered carefully since they may distract from the essential treatment--oral rehydration.