Sequential randomised and double blind trial of promethazine prophylaxis against early anaphylactic reactions to antivenom for bothrops snake bites.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To investigate the efficacy of the H1 antihistamine promethazine against early anaphylactic reactions to antivenom.

Design

Sequential randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial.

Setting

Public hospital in a venom research institute, São Paulo, Brazil.

Participants

101 patients requiring antivenom treatment after being bitten by bothrops snakes.

Intervention

Intramuscular injection of promethazine (25 mg for adults and 0.5/kg for children) or placebo given 15-20 min before starting intravenous infusion of antivenom.

Main outcome measures

Incidence and severity of anaphylactic reactions occurring within 24 hours after antivenom.

Results

Reactions occurred in 12 of 49 patients treated with promethazine (24%) and in 13 of 52 g

SUBMITTER: Fan HW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC27887 | biostudies-literature | 1999 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature