Use of psyllium in the management of chronic nonspecific diarrhea of childhood.

Abstract

The etiology and treatment of chronic nonspecific diarrhea of childhood is still poorly understood. We evaluated 23 children with this disorder in whom other etiologies of chronic diarrhea had been ruled out. The children were treated first with an unrestricted diet for 1 week, and if no response was obtained they were then treated with psyllium bulk agents for 2 weeks (1 tablespoon b.i.d.). Eighty-seven percent of the patients responded to therapy. Seven patients responded to an unrestricted diet only, and 13 responded to psyllium. Only three patients (13%) did not respond. Most children were on a restricted diet at presentation, but the amount of dietary fat intake did not correlate with the response, contrary to other reports. Treatment with normalization of the diet and psyllium bulk agents seems to be an effective mode of therapy for chronic nonspecific diarrhea of childhood.