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Intractable diarrhoea in infancy: a continuing challenge for the paediatric gastroenterologist
1Academic Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children, London, UK.
Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992). Supplement
|April 1, 1994
Summary
Intractable diarrhea in infants causes severe malnutrition and is difficult to treat. Diagnostic tools like biopsies help identify specific causes, but some cases remain unexplained.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Infant Nutrition
- Digestive System Disorders
Background:
- Intractable diarrhea of infancy is a severe condition causing malnutrition, resistant to standard treatments.
- This syndrome presents significant diagnostic and management challenges for affected infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the diagnostic utility of endoscopic biopsies in identifying causes of intractable infant diarrhea.
- To differentiate specific enteropathies from unexplained cases.
Main Methods:
- Small bowel biopsy and colonoscopy with biopsy were performed on infants with intractable diarrhea.
- Histopathological examination of biopsy samples was conducted.
Main Results:
- Specific conditions like autoimmune enteropathy and microvillus atrophy were identified through biopsies.
- A subset of infants presented with unexplained small intestinal enteropathy and idiopathic enterocolitis.
Conclusions:
- Endoscopic biopsies are crucial for diagnosing specific causes of intractable infant diarrhea.
- Unexplained enteropathy and enterocolitis remain challenging diagnostic and therapeutic problems in infants.