study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of racecadotril in children aged 3 to 60 months suffering from acute diarrhea

Conditions: Diarrhea, Infantile

Summary: this is a prospective, open-label, multicenter, single-arm study evaluating the efficacy and safety of racecadotril the treatment of children aged 3 to 60 months suffering from acute diarrhea

subjects presenting with acute diarrhea will be evaluated for eligibility. if eligible, demographics, number of stools during the last 12 hours will be assessed as baseline values. on day 1, the subject will start with study treatment. subjects will be treated with racecadotril three times daily according to the body weight dose requirement on an out-patient basis for maximum 5 days in addition to ors. ors will be prescribed by the investigator. the parent(s)/caregiver(s)/legal representative(s) will be instructed to stop treatment when the patient recovered. recovery is defined by the evacuation of the first of two consecutive normal stools or no stool within 12 hours. in the evening of each day, the parent(s)/caregiver(s)/legal representative(s) will fill in their diaries, documenting date and time of each individual stool, the stool consistency of each stool, ors amount and the study drug intake. aes are to be reported on an ongoing basis. the last dose of study drug intake will be the morning dose of day 6, if not recovered earlier. the parent(s)/caregiver(s)/legal representative(s) will visit the site for the end of study visit of the child. data on vital signs, aes, physical examination and concomitant medication will be collected. the parent(s)/caregiver(s)/legal representative(s) will return the diaries and unused medication. a phone call contact will be performed 5-7 days after the end of the treatment period or recovery for the safety follow-up.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * signed informed consent from one of the parent(s)/legal representative(s) * subjects, both genders, aged 3 to 60 months * subjects with acute diarrhea (defined as the passage of three or more unformed or liquid stools within the last 24 hours and lasting for less than 3 days) exclusion criteria: * known allergy to racecadotril or any of its ingredients * subjects suffering from renal or hepatic impairment * subjects with fever \> 39 degrees celsius * subjects with bloody and/or purulent stools * subjects suffering from antibiotic (e.g. amoxicillin)-associated diarrhea, chronic diarrhea or iatrogenic diarrhea * subjects with alternating bouts of diarrhea and constipation * diarrhea due to exacerbation of chronic gastrointestinal diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, irritable bowel disease or pancreatic exocrine insufficiency * cystic fibrosis or coeliac disease * subjects suffering from prolonged or uncontrolled vomiting * subjects with rare hereditary problems of fructose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption syndrome or sucrase isomaltase insufficiency * subjects having received antibiotic treatment at any time within 2 weeks prior to inclusion into the study * subjects having received antidiarrheal drugs 48 hours prior to inclusion into the study * subjects with severe dehydration requiring intravenous fluid, electrolyte replacement or hospitalization treatment * subject with a history of angioedema or who had reported angioedema with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (such as captopril, enalapril, lisinopril, perindopril, ramipril) * subjects with combined diseases or medical situations that would prevent to be enrolled into the study, depending on the judgment of the investigator * intake of experimental drug within 30 days prior to study start * subjects with contraindications to ors or susceptible to the warnings of ors