Is it necessary to regraduate milk after acute gastroenteritis in children?

ABSTRACT

To assess the best possible method of reintroducing milk in children suffering from acute gastroenteritis, 150 children (76 males and 74 females) admitted with acute gastroenteritis were allocated to one of three regimens a. clear fluids initially, followed by increasing strengths of milk, in quarter strength steps; b. clear fluids initially and then reintroducing full strength milk; c. regimen of continuing full strength milk. There was no difference between the three groups in the outcome or in the length of stay in the hospital, but those who were continued on full strength milk gained more weight. The weight gain did not attain statistical significance; it is our impression on clinical grounds that this weight gain may be important in the malnourished infant who is more prone to enteritis.