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Management of malnourished children with acute diarrhoea and sugar intolerance
Insights
A new nutritional rehabilitation protocol using fermented milk effectively treated malnourished Senegalese children with acute diarrhea and sugar intolerance. This approach supported weight gain even in children with sugar intolerance, demonstrating its viability.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nutritional Science
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Acute diarrhea and malnutrition are significant health challenges in young children.
- Sugar intolerance can complicate nutritional rehabilitation in cases of acute diarrhea.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a nutritional rehabilitation protocol using fermented milk, vegetable oil, and sugar in malnourished children with acute diarrhea.
- To assess the efficacy of the protocol in children with and without sugar intolerance.
Main Methods:
- A protocol involving fermented milk, vegetable oil, and caster sugar was administered to 54 Senegalese children (6-36 months) with acute diarrhea and malnutrition.
- Children's hydration status, sugar intolerance, weight gain, and diarrhea progression were monitored during treatment.
Main Results:
- The protocol was successfully implemented in most children, with only one death from unrelated causes and three leaving against medical advice.
- Children with sugar intolerance showed comparable mean weight gain to those without, despite longer diarrhea duration.
- No cases experienced worsened diarrhea or weight loss due to the experimental protocol.
Conclusions:
- A fermented milk-based formula combined with oral rehydration is a safe and effective treatment for malnourished children suffering from acute diarrhea and sugar intolerance.
- This nutritional rehabilitation strategy supports adequate weight gain even in the presence of sugar intolerance.
Abstract:
A protocol of nutritional rehabilitation using fermented milk, vegetable oil and caster sugar has been tested on 54 Senegalese children, aged 6-36 months, admitted with acute diarrhoea and malnutrition. At the time of admission, 39 per cent of children were dehydrated and 26 per cent had sugar intolerance. In the course of treatment three went home against medical advice and one died from acute pneumonia with respiratory-heart failure. Among the cases of marasmus there were no differences in mean weight gain between children with sugar intolerance and others despite a longer duration of diarrhoea in the first group. Furthermore, the experimental protocol has never been compromised because of worsening diarrhoea or weight loss. These results indicate that a formula based on fermented milk together with oral rehydration can be used to treat malnourished children with acute diarrhoea and sugar intolerance.