Abstract
Environmental enteropathy and asymptomatic excretion of enteropathogens have been demonstrated in apparently healthy subjects. L and H socioeconomic level are associated with different degrees of environmental contamination. The expired H2 excretion (EHE) was studied in fasted school age children 4 to 14 years old, aiming to quantitate the abnormal colonization of the small intestine by means of a noninvasive technique. Samples of EHE were obtained during fasting and every 15 minutes during 240 minutes after the ingestion of 150mg/kg of lactulose. H2 was measured in a Quintron Microlyzer 12i chromatograph. In 39/156 (25.0%) of the L group children and in 55/155 (35.5%)of the H group children (55,7% males and 19,8% females) excreted more than 10 ppm of EHE during fasting. EHE increased more than 20 ppm during the first 90 minutes in 11/156 (7,1%) of L and 27/155 (17,4%) of H children (p<.005). No differences related to age were found. The colonic peak was detected at 150 minutes.
Conclusions: Results suggest that both L and H school age children present microbiological contamination of the small bowel since early ages. The higher excretion of H2 in H group could be explained by different fiber contents of diet ingested during the days prior to the test.
FONDECY 91-1043
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Espinoza, J., Brunser, O., Araya, M. et al. ABNORMAL COLONIZATION OF THE SMALL INTESTINE IN SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN OF THE LOW (L) AND HIGH (H) SCCIOECONOMIC LEVEL.. Pediatr Res 33, 663 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199306000-00052
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199306000-00052
