The stomach in malnutrition.
Basal gastric acid output was reduced in 9 out of 14 infants and young children with malnutrition compared with 21 age-matched controls. In all the patients the response of the gastric mucosa to stimulation by pentagastrin was impaired, and gastritis of variable severity was present in 8 out of the 9 patients in who biopsies were performed. Impaired gastric acid secretion probably contributes towards bacterial overgrowth and diarrhoeal diseases in malnourished children.
D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005750:Gastric Juice / Q000378:metabolism; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013270:Stomach / Q000503:physiopathology*