Lactose malabsortion and diarrhoea in children with severe acute malnutrition

Abstract

Malnutrition and diarrhoea are major causes of childhood morbidity and mortality in the developing world. Lactose malabsorption has been associated with diarrhoea in malnourished children, but they are often managed with lactose containing feeds. This study quantified the prevalence of lactose malabsorption in children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and diarrhoea admitted to an urban South African hospital. Sixty-three Children with SAM and diarrhoea were included in the study and had their stool tested for reducing substances using the Benedict’s test. Fifty-nine percent had stool positive for reducing substances (≥0.5g%). After multivariate analysis, age of <12 months was the only factor found to significantly predict positive reducing substances (LR 4, p=0.046). Death was 4 times more likely in children with positive reducing substances (p=0.035). The role of lactose free feeds in children with SAM and diarrhoea has not been adequately explored.