A Study to determine the incidence of secondary lactose intolerance and evaluate the effect of lactose free feeds in controlling diarrhea and correcting dehydration among children

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Diarrhea is the second leading cause of deaths among under five children more than 10 million children die each year from diarrhea. Dehydration remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in infants and young children. Infants are more susceptible for dehydration. The effect of dehydration is greater because of higher metabolic rate, greater baseline fluid requirement inability to communicate thirst or seek fluid. Dehydration is also associated with electrolyte imbalance. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: The present study is aimed to develop a lactose free feed with cereal based (matta red rice) and soya and to evaluate the effectiveness of the developed lactose free feeds in controlling diarrhea and correcting dehydration among children with secondary lactose intolerance induced diarrhea. METHODS: A quasi experimental study based on before and after , control group design was used. A total of 120 children aged between 4 months to 12 months were taken as study sample, experimental group (n=60) and control group (n=60) through purposive sampling technique. RESULTS: A total number of 618 children with diarrhea for 3 and more than three days were screened for presence of reducing sugar in stool and stool pH, among which (56.63%) 350 children between the age of 4to 12 months were identified to have secondary lactose intolerance. The scores of Diarrheal status and Hydration status were compared within the group by paired t test and between group by independent t tests. There was a negative correlation found between the diarrheal and hydration status was increasing. Regarding the level of satisfaction in utilizing the lactose free Risoy feeds, the mother were not very much satisfied in the pretest and in post-test II, all the mother experienced that, they were very satisfied with the Risoy feeds. CONCLUSIONS: It is clear from the study that the children with secondary lactose intolerance can be effectively managed with Lactose free Risoy feeds among the children between the age of 4 -12 months. newline