3 - The impact of acute diarrhoea of different aetiologies on food intake in children

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the impact of acute diarrhea of different aetiologies on food intake in children. In a study reviewed in the chapter, 68 children aged between 1 and 5 years, suffering from acute diarrhea because of known aetiological agents and having moderate to severe dehydration, were included. Any child showing signs of systemic infection or third degree malnutrition on admission or during the study was excluded from the study. After initial rehydration using intravenous fluid a nonabsorbable charcoal marker was fed to the patients, followed by a familiar Bangladeshi home diet of known composition. In children who were breast-fed, the breast milk intake was determined by test weighing. Experience has shown that in spite of encouragement or even forced feeding it is difficult to enhance the intake of a child who is suffering from diarrhea, however, one have shown that it is relatively easy quite early in the recovery phase to make up the loss sustained during the acute phase of diarrhea. This finding gives a clear pointer in developing strategies for the reduction in morbidity in children during and after diarrhea.