The mother of a 6-year-old child receiving diphenoxylate (Lomotil)for the last 4 days for diarrhea reports by telephone that the diarrhea has stopped and that the child's pants cannot be zipped or buttoned today.What is your best advice?

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Increasing abdominal size while taking a drug for diarrhea is an indication of toxic megacolon,a serious complication of this therapy.Children taking diphenoxylate are more sensitive to the side effects and can develop a toxic megacolon quickly.Other signs and symptoms of this condition include fever,abdominal pain,rapid heart rate,and dehydration.A patient with toxic megacolon may go into shock.When this condition is not recognized and treated early,there is a risk for death.

The Mother of a 6-Year-Old Child Receiving Diphenoxylate (Lomotil)for the Last