Carbohydrate malabsortion in diarrheal syndrome of dhildren

Abstract

Between March and August 1987 we studied 86 children aged 1 to 24 months, who had been admitted to the Lactant Service at Hospital lnfantil, Medellín, Colombia. They were dehydratedas a result of acute, chronic or prolonged diarrhea. Once rehydration was obtained they were put on a lactose-containing diet. Lactose and maltodextrine intolerance were diagnosed employing Clinitest and were found to be present in 78 and 10% respectively. The frequency of malabsortion was not significantly different in regards to duration of diarrhea or nutritional status of patients. Maltodextrine intolerance was significantly more common in those under six months of age. Benedict test and Clinitest ylelded similar results. Fecal pH was generally lower in children with intolerance but this finding was not confirmatory of the presence of this entity.