Breast-feeding and food intake among children with acute diarrheal disease

To quantitate reduced food intake during diarrhea and to assess possible means of promoting such intake, the 24-hr food and breast milk intakes of 41 children 6 to 35 months divided into three groups were measured. The energy and protein intake of 15 children hospitalized with acute watery diarrhea averaged 75 kcal/kg and 0.96 g/kg, respectively. The energy and protein consumption of another group of 15 children with diarrhea whose mothers received intensive education to promote food intake during hospitalization averaged 60.9 kcal/kg and 0.70 g/kg, respectively. These intake levels were significantly lower than 129.9 kcal/kg and 1.89 g/kg observed among healthy control children. These results suggest that child anorexia may be an important cause of reduced food intake during diarrhea. Anorexia was not overcome with intensive educational efforts. Breast milk was found to be important nutrient source with breast-fed children better protected against reduced intake during diarrhea.