Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39855680›Full record

Trial reportBMJ paediatrics open2025

Randomised feasibility study of an intestinal adsorbent in acute diarrhoea in The Gambia.

Paul Rahden, Abdoulie Fatty, Momodou Lamin Jobarteh, Abdoulwahab Sallah, Ebrahim Jaiteh, Angela Allen, Doreen Umoh, Fanta Bass, Matthew Dodd, Carol Howell and 3 more

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMJ paediatrics open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Paul RahdenDepartment of Paediatrics, Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, Banjul, Gambia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0003-9008-9335
Abdoulie FattyDepartment of Paediatrics, Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, Banjul, Gambia.
Momodou Lamin JobartehDepartment of Paediatrics, Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, Banjul, Gambia.
Abdoulwahab SallahDepartment of Paediatrics, Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, Banjul, Gambia.
Ebrahim JaitehPharmacy Department, Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, Banjul, Gambia.
Angela AllenSevere Malaria in Children Laboratory, Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, Banjul, Gambia.
Doreen UmohSevere Malaria in Children Laboratory, Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, Banjul, Gambia.
Fanta BassSevere Malaria in Children Laboratory, Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, Banjul, Gambia.
Matthew DoddDepartment of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Carol HowellEnteromed Ltd, London, UK.
Elena MarkaryanEnteromed Ltd, London, UK.
Radovan HnatičBioline Products s.r.o, Prague, Czech Republic.
Stephen AllenDepartment of Paediatrics, Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, Banjul, Gambia stephen.allen@lstmed.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6675-249X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDiarrhoea remains a leading cause of death in children. An intestinal adsorbent may reduce diarrhoea duration and severity.

methodsRandomised controlled feasibility trial with two phases: phase 1 (0-4 hours and double-blind) and phase 2 (up to 5 days and open-label). 50 children aged 6-59 months with acute diarrhoea presenting with no or some dehydration to the emergency paediatric unit and outpatient clinic at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, Banjul, The Gambia were randomised to either standard treatment (oral rehydration fluid and zinc) or standard treatment with polymethylsiloxane polyhydrate for up to 5 days.

resultsRecruitment was completed in 7 months. All but one child completed the study. There were no major protocol deviations although patient-held diaries did not collect reliable information. Time from randomisation to the last watery stool (primary outcome) was shorter in the intervention than control arm (mean difference -19.3 hours, 95% CI -30.9 to -7.8). Stool frequency was lower in the intervention arm on days 2 (95% CI -0.8 to -1.3 to -0.3) and 3 (95% CI -0.8; -1.3 to -0.3). One serious event (death) occurred in the control arm.

conclusionsA randomised, controlled trial is feasible. Further clinical trials are warranted to confirm the efficacy of polymethylsiloxane polyhydrate in acute diarrhoea and inform management guidelines. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: PACTR202302683128875.

Indexed as

DiarrheaFluid TherapyAcute DiseaseChild, PreschoolDouble-Blind MethodFeasibility StudiesFemaleGambiaHumansInfantMaleTreatment OutcomeChild HealthGastroenterologyLow and Middle Income Countries

Identifiers

PMID39855680
PMCPMC11759216

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.