Comparison of three regimens in the management of acute gastroenteritis in infants.
Sixty infants were randomly assigned to one of three groups on admission to hospital with a diagnosis of gastroenteritis. After rehydration, Group A received a low-lactose, low-fat feed (HN25) in full strength; Group B were regarded on to a conventional formula (SMA); Group C received a hydrolysed soya and collagen feed (Prejomin) in full strength. All feeds were continued for 5 days. The median duration of loose stools from starting the feed was 24 hours in Group A, compared to 119 hours and 95 hours in Groups B and C, respectively. Group A showed a mean percentage increase in weight of 2.34%, Group B showed a mean loss of 1.45%, and Group C a mean increase of 0.15%. These differences were statistically significant. Recovery from gastroenteritis is hastened by the use of a low-lactose, low-fat feed in the initial post-rehydration phase of the disease.
McClean
P
P
Department of Child Health, Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Lynch
A B
AB
Dodge
J A
JA
D000208:Acute Disease; D001835:Body Weight; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena