Hypolactasia in the pathogenesis of diarrhoea in children infected with giardia intestinalis
Swiatkowska, E.; Sawnor-Korszyńska, D.; Socha, J.; Czarnowska, E.; Lembowicz, K.; Kozłowski, K.; Bak, E.
Materia Medica Polona. Polish Journal of Medicine and Pharmacy 20(1): 12-17
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-5246 PMID: 3146678 Document Number: 321881
In 60 children with recurrent diarrhoea during giardiasis hypolactasia was assessed using, among others, the hydrogen breath test after a lactose load. The results were analysed in comparison with those obtained in a group of children with abdominal pains and meteorism during giardiasis, in a group with prolonged diarrhoea of another origin, and in certain cases from the main group studied after treatment aiming at eradication of Giardia intestinalis. In giardiasis low values of lactase in the mucosa were found frequently (72% of cases) independently of the histological findings (which included mainly superficial atrophy of the mucosa in 25%), and another finding was a significantly lower percentage of cases with abnormal results of the breath test (40%). In the control group of prolonged diarrhoea both these abnormal findings were obtained with equal frequency. The results of treatment included disappearance of diarrhoea and return of normal values of the tests.