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Intractable diarrhoea in infancy in the 1990s: A survey in Italy

European Journal of Pediatrics volume 154, pages 522–525 (1995)Cite this article

Abstract

Abstract

A “quick” prevalence study of intractable diarrhoea (defined as diarrhoea lasting more than 3 weeks and dependent on parenteral nutrition [PN] for more than 50% of daily caloric intake) was conducted by FAX. All 35 paediatric gastroenterology services which had been contacted answered questionnaire sent by FAX. 20 cases of intractable diarrhoea were identified in 9 centres. In 12 cases PN was administered at home, the other 8 cases being treated as inpatients for an average duration of 9.5 months. A diagnosis had been established in 11 out of 20 cases. Auto-immune enteropathy was the most frequent diagnosis (5 cases); congenital microvillous atrophy (3 cases); chronic pseudo-obstruction (2 cases) and multiple food intolerance (1 case). Undefinied 9/20 cases presented atrophy of intestinal mucosa. The age of the beginning of diarrhoea varied from 2 days to 12 years, but was more than 16 months only in some cases with auto-immune enteropathy.

Conclusion

Intractable diarrhoea has a low prevalence in Italy and remains a rare but very intricating problem. Long-term PN is recommended in most cases: autoimmune enteropathy is the most frequent cause but in about half of the cases the aetiopathogenetic diagnosis is still not defined.

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Abbreviations

ICD :

intractable chronic diarrhoea

PN :

parenteral nutrition

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Author information

Affiliations

  1. Participants, Torino

    N. Ansaldi

  2. Modena

    F. Balli

  3. Reggio Emilia

    G. Banchini

  4. Chieti

    F. Bascietto

  5. Milano

    C. Bianchi, M. Fontana, A. M. Giunta & P. Roggero

  6. Roma

    M. Bonamico & M. Calvani

  7. Palermo

    F. Cataldo & G. Iacono

  8. Ancona

    C. Catassi

  9. Pisa

    C. Light

  10. Firenze

    M. Ciampolini & R. Ferrari

  11. Sassari

    A. Dore

  12. Napoli

    L. DeSeta, A. Guarino & R. Troncone

  13. Trieste

    D. Faraguha

  14. Catanzaro

    S. Guandalini

  15. Bologna

    A. Lambertini & R. Lazzari

  16. Verona

    G. Mastella

  17. Cesena

    A. Miano

  18. Catania

    R. Patanè

  19. Genova

    F. Pesce

  20. Bari

    V. Rutigliano

  21. Varese

    S. Scotta

  22. Messina

    A. Tedesch

  23. Brescia

    A. Ugazio

  24. Padova

    L. Zancan

  25. Istituto di Clinica Pediatrica, Policlinico Santa Chiara, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, Pisa, Italy

    Alessandro Ventura

  26. Clinica Pediatrica, Istituto per l'Infanzia “Burlo Garofolo”, Trieste, Italy

    Dana Dragovich

Authors
  1. Alessandro Ventura
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  2. Dana Dragovich
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  3. N. Ansaldi
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  4. F. Balli
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  5. G. Banchini
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  6. F. Bascietto
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  7. C. Bianchi
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  8. M. Bonamico
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  9. M. Calvani
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  10. F. Cataldo
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  11. C. Catassi
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  12. C. Light
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  13. M. Ciampolini
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  14. A. Dore
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  15. L. DeSeta
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  16. D. Faraguha
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  17. R. Ferrari
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  18. M. Fontana
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  19. A. M. Giunta
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  20. S. Guandalini
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  21. A. Guarino
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  22. G. Iacono
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  23. A. Lambertini
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  24. R. Lazzari
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  25. G. Mastella
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  26. A. Miano
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  27. R. Patanè
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  28. F. Pesce
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  29. P. Roggero
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  30. V. Rutigliano
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  31. S. Scotta
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  32. A. Tedesch
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  33. R. Troncone
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  34. A. Ugazio
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  35. L. Zancan
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Ventura, A., Dragovich, D., Ansaldi, N. et al. Intractable diarrhoea in infancy in the 1990s: A survey in Italy. Eur J Pediatr 154, 522–525 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02074826

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02074826

Key words

  • Intractable diarrhoea in childhood
  • Auto-immune enteropathy
  • Parenteral nutrition