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Morbidity from excessive intake of high energy fluids: the 'squash drinking syndrome'
1Department of Child Health, Southampton University Hospitals Trust, Southampton General Hospital.
Insights
Excessive intake of sugary drinks in children can cause health problems. Reducing high-energy fluid consumption improved symptoms and weight gain in a small group of young patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Clinical Nutrition
- Dietary Medicine
Background:
- Excessive fluid intake, particularly from high-energy drinks, can lead to morbidity in children.
- Non-specific symptoms like poor appetite, behavioral issues, and poor weight gain are common presentations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify children experiencing health issues due to excessive consumption of energy-rich fluids.
- To investigate the effectiveness of reducing high-energy fluid intake in pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study involving outpatient children.
- Supervised reduction of energy-rich fluid intake.
- Dietary history focusing on fluid consumption.
Main Results:
- All eight participating children successfully reduced their intake of energy-rich fluids.
- Significant improvement in symptoms was observed in all children.
- Children demonstrated an increase in weight following dietary intervention.
Conclusions:
- A detailed dietary history, including fluid intake, can identify children with excessive consumption of high-energy drinks.
- The consistent presentation and response to treatment suggest a distinct clinical entity, termed the 'squash drinking syndrome'.
Objective:
To identify children suffering morbidity from excessive intake of energy from fluids.
Design:
Prospective enrolment of outpatients in a supervised reduction of energy rich fluid intake.
Setting:
Outpatient paediatric clinic.
Subjects:
Eight children (four boys, mean age 20.8 months, mean duration of symptoms seven months) who were referred with non-specific symptoms such as poor appetite, poor behaviour at mealtimes, poor weight gain, and loose stools.
Results:
All children were able to reduce their intake of energy rich fluids, as prescribed. All children demonstrated an improvement in symptoms and an increase in weight.
Conclusions:
A careful dietary history, which includes documentation of fluid intake may identify children whose intake of high energy drinks may be excessive. The pathogenesis, symptoms, and response to treatment of these patients are consistent enough to be regarded as a distinct clinical entity: the 'squash drinking syndrome'.