Lactose maldigestion - age-specific prevalence black and Indian children

A study was performed to determine the prevalence and age of onset of primary lactose maldigestion in healthy black and Indian children, and to determine whether this was of clinical significance. More black (22 of 44 - 50%) than Indian children (10 of 45 - 22,2%) had lactose maldigestion (P < 0,02), the development of which was age-related and occurred earlier in blacks than in Indians; 6 of 19 black children less than 5 years old (31,6%) were lactose maldigesters, compared with 8 of 10 (80%) over 10 years old, while only 1 of 16 Indian children aged under 8 years (6,3%) were maldigesters, compared with 5 of 13 (38,5%) aged over 10 years. Most children had a very low intake of milk and lactose maldigestion was of no clinical significance to them

The practical significance of lactose maldigestion in institutionalised black children

A study was carried out to determine the practical significance of a high prevalence of lactose maldigestion in institutionalised children whose diet included 500 ml milk daily. Thirty of 34 children at a child we"are home were found to be lactose maldigesters as judged by a 2-hour rise in breath hydrogen of 20 parts per million or more after an oral load of lactose. Breath hydrogen tests were also perf~rmed on the same group of children, before and up to 150 minutes after the routine mid-morning cup of milk. Sixteen of the 30 lactosemaldigesting children did not show Increased breath hydrogen up to 2,5 hours after milk. No children were clinically intolerant of either the lactose or the milk. In these children the degree of lactose digestion was much improved in the non-fasting' state when measured by the breath hydrogen response to milk lactose. Lactose maldigestion per se is not a contraindication to institutional feeding routines, including regular moderate milk intake

Non-immunological hydrops fetalis

A case of hydrops fetalis which was not due to isoimmunization is presented. The condition was diagnosed antenatally by means of Ultrasonography and the infant was delivered at 32 weeks' gestation. He required intensive care, but survived and is well at 18 months of age. The causation, diagnosis and management of this problem are discussed