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The appropriate choice of treatment for infants with diarrhea has long provoked de-
bate. Growth of infants with diarrhea is adversely affected by associated diseases
including anorexia, malabsorption, catabolic response to infection, and iatrogenic
starvation. To prevent the negative effects of diarrhea on the nutrition of infants, con-
tinued feeding during the active and early convalescent phases has been recom-
mended. Although this concept is not new, until recently it has been little used in the
treatment of diarrhea. In this article we examine the current knowledge about, and
trends in, feeding infants with diarrhea. We will discuss treatments for the well-nour-
ished infant with acute diarrhea, the infant with prolonged diarrhea, and the mal-
nourished infant. Information regarding the use of local staples will also be provided.
The treatment of infants with diarrhea has fish) are used by some populations when
been a matter of controversy for many those foods are available.
years. Whether, what, and how much to The recent worldwide implementation of
feed are questions that continue to pro- oral rehydration has reduced infant mortal-
voke a variety of answers. This diversity of ity that resulted from acute diarrhea.2-5
opinion results from a combination of fac- The negative effects of diarrhea on nutri-
tors: a lack of conclusive research results; tion and growth have also been clearly
the biases of physicians and health-care identified."-'* Diarrhea affects growth
providers; and the folklore, beliefs, and through anorexia,10-i2 r n a l a b ~ o r p t i o ncat-
,~~
culture of the immediate and extended abolic response to infection,14 and, fre-
family of the patient. Jelliffe et a1.l recently quently, iatrogenic starvation. The combi-
analyzed information from 74 countries nation of these factors is devastating to the
concerning traditional feeding practices nutritional status of infants, particularly
during and after diarrhea. There was a wide those who suffer several bouts of diarrhea
discrepancy in the results; foods avoided during their first year or whose health has
by some were recommended by others. already been undermined by previous ill-
Moreover, several population groups to- nesses. The negative effect of diarrheal ill-
tally withheld food during diarrhea. Never- ness on the growth of infants and children
theless, people in many countries use di- has been documented in both the develop-
lute, soft preparations of local staples, ing7-9 and developed ~ 0 u n t r i e s . Tol ~ pre-
mainly rice and other cereals (wheat, corn, vent the negative effects of diarrhea on nu-
millet, barley, oatmeal, sorghum), potatoes, trition, the Subcommittee on Nutrition and
and cassava. Bananas, apples, carrots, and Diarrheal Diseases Control of the National
some animal foods (such as chicken and Research Council recommends continued
feeding during the active and early conva-
lescent phases of diarrhea.16 The primary
Dr. Lifschitz is Assistant Professor, and Dr. objective of feeding should always be to
Shulman is Associate Professor in the Depart- minimize the adverse effects of the illness
ment of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, on nutritional status. This objective re-
Houston, TX 77030. mains the same whether treatment is pro-