Abstract

Intestinal intolerance of one or more dietary constituents may occur in a variety of pathological conditions. Such conditions present as diarrhoea and malabsorption. The latter may arise as a result of a mucosal enzyme deficiency or of an enteropathy caused by a dietary constituent. Table I lists the dietary constituents and the corresponding clinical conditions which are most frequently found in children. In patients with one of these conditions the offending dietary constituent(s) should be withdrawn and an alternative nutrient substituted if necessary.