Diarrhoea and Malnutrition

  • Etienne de la Rey Nel Stellenbosch University
Keywords: diarrhoea, enteric infections, malnutrition

Abstract

The relationship between diarrhoea and malnutrition is bidirectional: diarrhoea leads to malnutrition while malnutrition aggravates the course of diarrhoea. Many factors contribute to the detrimental effect of diarrhoea on nutrition. Reduced intake (due to anorexia, vomiting, and with-holding of feeds), maldigestion, malabsorption, increased nutrient losses, and the effects of the inflammatory response are some of the factors involved. High volume stool losses (greater than 30ml/kg/day) are associated with a negative balance for protein, fat, and sugar absorption. Enteric infections often cause increased loss of endogenous proteins, particularly after invasive bacterial infections. Initially, the major emphasis of treatment of acute diarrhoea in children is the prevention and treatment of dehydration, electrolyte abnormalities and comorbid conditions. The objectives of diarrhoeal disease management are to prevent weight loss, to encourage catch-up growth during recovery, to shorten the duration and to decrease the impact of the diarrhoea on the child’s health. Addressing only diarrhoea or only food security is unlikely to be successful in decreasing the prevalence of malnutrition. Existing evidence provides some guidelines as to the optimal nutritional management of children with diarrhoea and novel treatments may prove to be valuable in future.

Author Biography

Etienne de la Rey Nel, Stellenbosch University
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health Faculty of Health Sciences University of Stellenbosch and Tygerberg Hospital Cape Town, South Africa.
How to Cite
Nel, E. (1). Diarrhoea and Malnutrition. South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 23(2), S15-S18. Retrieved from http://www.sajcn.co.za/index.php/SAJCN/article/view/415
Section
Invited Communications