Intestinal Intolerance To Sugars In Children: A Review

Abstract

Intestinal intolerance to sugars is now well established as a cause of diarrhea and failure to thrive in children. It is assuming increased importance now that it is realized that a variety of insults to the gut can lead to intolerance (Advances in Paediatrics, 1969), and secondly, because malnutrition may be both caused by and lead to sugar intolerance (Bowie, Brinkman and Hansen 1965). Sugar intolerance occurs in adults (mainly alactasia), but clinically it presents a different problem and will not be dealt with in this review.