Dietary protein intolerance in infants with transient methemoglobinemia and diarrhea

Of 17 infants requiring hospitalization for primary soy or cow milk protein intolerance, six infants (35%) had transient methemoglobinemia. Reexposure to the offending protein caused diarrhea, metabolic acidosis, and transient methemoglobinemia in all patients. These six patients represented 65% of the total hospitalizations resulting from methemoglobinemia of any cause.