Title: Study on Lactose Intolerance in Children with Acute Diarrhoea
Authors: Dr Ritesh Veerlapati, Dr K N V Prasad
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v7i10.85
Abstract
Diarrhoea is a major cause of mortality and morbidity among children in India. Mortality rates are exacerbated by multiple risk factors like malnutrition, infection, the lack of adequate health care and other factors like lactose intolerance. Few studies have been done in India relating to lactose intolerance in acute diarrhoea. This study aims to estimate the frequency of lactose intolerance in children with acute diarrhoea and to assess the factors affecting the outcome of lactose intolerance. In this prospective study, in 150 cases with acute diarrhoea, diagnosis of lactose intolerance was made on the basis of stool pH (<5.5) and presence of reducing substances. 54 cases were diagnosed as lactose intolerant. Cases with lactose intolerance had longer stay in hospital compared to the lactose tolerant counterparts (6.01 ± 2.24 days and 5.13 ± 1.24 days respectively). Among these lactose intolerant cases, those who were fed on low-lactose feeds had shorter duration of stay compared to those on normal feeds (4.82 ± 1.05 days and 7.59 ± 1.13 days respectively). Lactose intolerance was more common in cases with malnutrition (p value=0.011). There was no positive correlation with degree of dehydration. Lactose intolerance is very common in cases with acute diarrhoea and is often underemphasized. Treatment of lactose intolerance with low lactose feeds has the potential for speedier recovery and improved outcomes in cases with diarrhoea. There is need for considering lactose intolerance in formulating better diarrhoea treatment guidelines in India.
Keywords: Lactose intolerance, Acute diarrhoea, Low Lactose feeds.
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