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[Modular diet and parenteral support in persistent diarrhea]
Insights
Modular diets and parenteral nutrition aided infants with protracted diarrhea, improving hospitalization duration but showing persistent nutritional deficits. Recovery was noted post-discharge.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Clinical Nutrition
- Infectious Diseases
Context:
- Protracted diarrhea in infants presents significant nutritional challenges.
- Nosocomial infections complicate recovery and prolong hospital stays.
- Enteropathogenic E. coli and rotavirus are common etiological agents.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the efficacy of a modular diet combined with short-term parenteral nutrition in infants with protracted diarrhea.
- To assess the nutritional impact and recovery patterns following this therapeutic approach.
Summary:
- Eleven infants with protracted diarrhea received modular diet and parenteral nutrition.
- Studies included balance studies and peroral biopsies.
- While hospitalization was shortened, a negative nutritional impact (decreased Weight/Age) persisted, with fecal lactic acid decreasing and disaccharidase activity remaining low.
Impact:
- Modular diets can reduce fecal volume and lactic acid excretion in infants with diarrhea.
- Despite treatment, long-term nutritional deficits require attention.
- Further research is needed to fully address the persistent nutritional impact.
Abstract:
Eleven infants with protracted diarrhea were treated with modular diet and short-term parenteral nutrition. Mean age at admission was 3.7 months with males predominating. Enteropathogenic E. coli, classic serotypes, were isolated from 7 patients and rotavirus from one. A child with combined, severe immunodeficiency died. Milk protein intolerance was diagnosed in another patient. Balance studies and peroral biopsies were performed. Malnutrition was more frequent and hospital stay was longer in those infants who developed nosocomial infections. Even though this treatment shortened the duration of the hospitalization, the negative nutritional impact persisted: Weight/Age (NCHS) decreased from 84% to 61%, with rapid recovery after discharge. Fecal lactic acid excretion was increased on admission to 1,296 mg x day and disaccharidase activity was decreased. The modular diet decreased both fecal volume and lactic acid excretion.
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