Withdrawal of food during diarrhoea: major mechanism of malnutrition following diarrhoea in Bangladesh children

A study conducted on children in urban and rural areas of Bangladesh evaluated possible factors influencing the diarrhea-malnutrition-diarrhea cycle. The study involved interviews of 500 urban and 555 rural mothers attending diarrhea treatment centers with their children. The weights of the children and their diarrhea history were recorded longitudinally. The results revealed that during and following a diarrhea incidence, 40%, 55%, and 60% of the carbohydrate, protein, and vegetable components of the diets were withdrawn, associated with a weight decline in all children following a diarrhea episode. In many cases, another diarrhea episode occurred before weight gain was noted, creating a "diarrhea-food-withdrawal-malnutrition-diarrhea" cycle, explaining previously observed rapid malnutrition development following diarrhea.(wz)