[Basic diet in the treatment of infants with prolonged diarrhea]

Fourteen infants between 1 and 9 months of age received elemental diet by continuous nasogastric drip. All had diarrhea (average duration 32 days). All were malnourished. Eight had carbohydrate intolerance. Two had intestinal pneumatosis. Elemental diet was used at first in 12.5% concentration and increased progressively until it reached a 25% concentration. Clinical response was favorably in every case.