PEDIATRICS Vol. 49 No. 2 February 1972, pp. 233-242
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Coello-Ramirez, P.
Right arrow Articles by Lifshitz, F.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Coello-Ramirez, P.
Right arrow Articles by Lifshitz, F.

ENTERIC MICROFLORA AND CARBOHYDRATE INTOLERANCE IN INFANTS WITH DIARRHEA

Pedro Coello-Ramirez M.D.1 and Fima Lifshitz M.D.1

1 Hospital de Pediatria Centro Medico Nacional, I.M.S.S., Mexico D.F., Mexico, The Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, and Research Department, Rosewood State Hospital, Owings Mills, Maryland

Enteric microflora were studied in relation to carbohydrate tolerance in 50 infants with severe diarrhea. During the acute stage, 16 infants tolerated lactose, 23 patients had a specific lactose intolerance, eight had a generalized disaccharide intolerance, and three had monosaccharide intolerance. All patients had bacterial proliferation in the small intestine. A linear increase in the bacterial counts in duodenal aspirates (<103 to 105) was observed with an increasing severity of carbohydrate intolerance. The least bacterial growth (mean 103) was found in the lactose tolerant infants. A moderate growth occurred in patients with specific lactose (104-5) and disaccharide (106) intolerance; and a severe infection (108) in those with monosaccharide intolerance. Seven patients, who developed a more severe carbohydrate intolerance after a period of diarrhea, had an increase in their bacterial count as well. After recovery from diarrhea, the bacterial counts of the duodenal aspirates decreased and all patients rapidly recovered the capacity to tolerate all carbohydrates. The types of bacteria grown were similar in all patients: klebsiella species most often, then Escherichia coli (nonpathogenic), enterococci, pseudomonas and proteus species. A mixed flora was often present. In 24 patients, the bacteria isolated from the small intestine were different from those found in the feces. The proliferation of bacteria within the small bowel of infants with diarrhea may be related to the presence of undigested carbohydrates.

Submitted on March 22, 1971
Accepted on July 29, 1971




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Am. Coll. Nutr.Home page
U. Fagundes-Neto and J. A.B.d. Andrade
Acute Diarrhea and Malnutrition: Lethality Risk in Hospitalized Infants
J. Am. Coll. Nutr., August 1, 1999; 18(4): 303 - 308.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch. Dis. Child.Home page
J. A. Castro-Rodríguez, E. Salazar-Lindo, and R. León-Barúa
Differentiation of osmotic and secretory diarrhoea by stool carbohydrate and osmolar gap measurements
Arch. Dis. Child., September 1, 1997; 77(3): 201 - 205.
[Abstract] [Full Text]