Abstract:

Objective To study the prevalence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth(SIBO) in infants with persistent and chronic diarrhea, and to analyze the clinical features and treatment outcomes of SIBO in infants.Methods A retrospective study was made in 110 infants with persistent and chronic diarrhea, who were treated in the Department of Gastroenterology of our hospital from April 11, 2017 to April 10, 2019. The lactose hydrogen breath test was used as a diagnostic method for SIBO.Results The positive rate of lactose hydrogen breath test was 9.09%(10/110) . Comparing the SIBO positive group with SIBO negative group,the mucous stool in positive group was less than that in SIBO negative group,and the difference was statistically significant（P＜0.05）. There was no significant difference in frequency of bowel movement, abdominal distension, vomiting, crying or dehydration（P＞0.05）. The incidence of anemia，growth retardation and lactose malabsorption in the positive group were all higher than those in the negative group,and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). After being treated with probiotics and fed with lactose-free milk powder, the symptoms of 8 cases(8/9) were relieved on discharge, while 1 case(1/9) was not significantly relieved.Conclusion SIBO is more common in infancy diarrhea,and its clinical manifestations are not significantly specific.The infants are more likely to have watery stool, anemia, growth retardation and lactose malabsorption.Probiotics and diet adjustment are effective.

Key words:

Persistent and chronic diarrhea, Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth；Lactose hydrogen breath test, Infants