title: Protracted diarrhoea in infancy. Analysis of 82 cases with particular reference to diagnosis and management.
abstract: Eighty-two cases of protracted diarrhoea in infancy presenting over a 6-year period have been analysed, with particular reference to diagnosis and management. The patients fell into 1 of 2 categories according to whether a specific diagnosis was established or not. A diagnosis (category 1) was established in 59 (72%), the commonest diagnoses being coeliac disease (33-2%), secondary disaccharide intolerance (12-2%), and cows' milk protein intolerance (12-3%). Other diagnoses included primary sucrase-isomaltase deficiency, Shwachman's syndrome, ulcerative colitis, ganglioneuroma, defective opsonization, staphylococcal pneumonia, and Hirschsprung's disease. Despite intensive investigation in diagnosis could not be established in 23 (28%) infants (category 2). Age of onset of symptoms in this group tended to be earlier than in category 1 patients, and 6 (7%) presented with diarrhoea dating from birth. Of particular interest in these 6 patients was the high incidence of associated extraintestinal anomalies, and of sibs who had died after protracted diarrhoea dating from birth. 4 of these 6 infants died, accounting for a mortality of 5% for the whole series. The remaining 17 (21%) patients in category 2 presented at a mean age of 4-9 weeks with a range of 1-18 weeks. All these 17 patients made an excellent response after institution of a chicken-based dietary formula, the details of which are presented. The pathophysiological mechanisms which may be operating in infants with protracted diarrhoea are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008892:Milk / Q000009:adverse effects