Intractable ulcerating enterocolitis of infancy

Article Abstract:

Intractable ulcerating enterocolitis of infancy is characterized by chronic diarrhea that is unrelated to an infection. This disorder develops within the first three months of life and may result in a failure to thrive, and can be difficult to treat because the cause of the diarrhea is not known. Studies show that this disease consists of a mixed group of conditions, which have been partially characterized, do not respond to treatment. In many cases, the small intestine is affected. Cases are described of five children with chronic inflammatory bowel disease, primarily affecting the large intestine. The children shared certain features, including ulcerating stomatitis, the inflammation and formation of ulcers in the mouth; partial villous atrophy of the small intestine, the wasting away of the finger-like projections of mucosal tissue lining the small intestine; inflammation and ulcer formation in the colon; severe disease of the area surrounding the anus; and no infectious agents were found in stool samples. Although the children were treated with steroids, sulfasalazine, and azathioprine, they did not improve and required the removal of a part of the colon. The parents of four children were blood-related, and two of the five children were siblings of Pakistani origin. Another two children were cousins of Arab origin, and the fifth child was Portuguese. These children may have symptoms similar to Crohn's disease, the chronic inflammation of the intestines, or Behcet's disease, a recurrent disease characterized by ulcer formation in the mouth, genitals, iris portion of the eye, and joint pain. The findings suggest that intractable ulcerating enterocolitis of infancy is a distinct genetic disorder involving the entire gastrointestinal tract, particularly the colon. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Complications and side effects, Genetic aspects, Ulcerative colitis, Necrotizing enterocolitis, Enterocolitis, Neonatal necrotizing

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Symptoms and transmission of intestinal cryptosporidiosis

Article Abstract:

Cryptosporidium is a species of parasites that frequently cause diarrhea in children. In this study, children who were suffering from diarrhea and were positive for cryptosporidium were compared with two other groups of children, those who had diarrhea but were not positive for the parasite and those who did not have diarrhea (healthy controls). The purpose of the study was to examine possible routes of transmission and describe symptoms associated with cryptosporidiosis; age and sex distributions were similar for the three groups. The mothers of the subjects responded to a questionnaire concerning medical and family history, living conditions, behavior patterns, eating habits, contact with individuals with diarrhea or with animals, travelling, and if applicable, symptoms and severity of diarrhea. Diarrhea was reported in 455 children, and 21 (4.6 percent) were positive for cryptosporidium. The number of subjects in each group was 19 with cryptosporidiosis, 38 healthy controls, and 38 with diarrhea of a different origin. Symptoms such as frequency and duration of diarrhea, fever, vomiting, and feces characteristics were similar between those children suffering from diarrhea with or without cryptosporidiosis, but 42 percent of cryptosporidiosis-positive children had a cough (as compared with 13 percent of children with diarrhea from other causes). Risk factors for cryptosporidiosis included contact with a person who had diarrhea, attendance at kindergarten, and holidays in the Mediterranean region. These results suggests that bronchitis occurred more often in cases of cryptosporidiosis, and that most cases are probably transmitted from person to person rather than animal to person. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Demographic aspects, Disease transmission, Intestines, Cryptosporidiosis, Parasitic diseases

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Isolated fructose malabsorption

Article Abstract:

Fructose is a simple sugar that is often used as a natural food sweetener. Other sugars, like glucose, are generally digested and absorbed by enzymes found in the brush border of the intestines. It was previously thought that fructose is absorbed passively, averting malabsorption syndromes. Malabsorption of fructose can cause abdominal pain in adults, but is rarely reported in children. Toddler diarrhea has been reported in children who drank fruit juices containing fructose and sorbitol, another sweetener. However, the diarrhea is thought to be caused by the sorbitol, not the fructose. A case of fructose malabsorption is reported in a child under a year old. An infant girl was born after a normal, uneventful pregnancy. Cow's milk formula was initiated when the child had difficulty breast feeding. After one week of age, the child was given fennel and black currant drinks for three weeks; rice was added at six weeks. The infant was hospitalized when feeding precipitated severe bouts of screaming. The episodes particularly occurred after the ingestion of fruit juices. The child continued to thrive, although there were periodic episodes of discomfort. Fructose malabsorption was suspected. This patient had malabsorption and fructose intolerance, but was able to tolerate glucose. Fructose malabsorption should be considered in children who have abdominal symptoms after the ingestion of fruit and fruit juices. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Physiological aspects, Nutritional aspects, Malabsorption syndromes, Fructose, Fructose in human nutrition

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