Acute and chronic diarrhea in children: dietary management and its impact on nutritional status

ABSTRACT

The study aimed to assess the nutritional status of children with chronic and acute diarrhea through both anthropometric and biochemical parameters. It also aimed to investigate whether the body weight and different biochemical parameters may be modified by dietary rehabilitation with either a diet containing skimmed milk [modest amount] and fortified with zinc and vitamin A [diet I] or lactose restricted diet containing chicken meat [diet II]. Both diets contained anti-diarrheal edible plants, in addition to cereals and legumes using honey as a sweetener. The parameters that are determinant of the disease severity including stool frequency and consistency, duration of diarrhea and appetite improvement were also assessed. Dietary rehabilitation of both diets proved to be efficient [with different degrees] in the management of acute and chronic diarrhea and restoration of different biochemical parameters towards normal levels