Effect of diarrhoea on dietary intake by infants and young children in rural villages of Kwara State, Nigeria

Community-based, quantitative studies of dietary intake by 5- to 28-months-old Nigerian children were conducted during episodes of diarrhoea and subsequent convalescent and healthy periods. Energy intakes during diarrhoea (85.3 kcal/kg per d) were slightly lower than during health (95.9 kcal/kg per d, P < 0.05), using paired analysis of intra-individual differences. When intake was disaggregated by food source, no differences by illness status were found in energy intake from breast milk or liquid pap. There were no differences in frequency or duration of breastfeeding by illness status, but pap was provided more frequently and in smaller amounts during illness. Energy intake from other foods, including solids, was greater during health than diarrhoea (P < 0.05) with an increase in number of servings per day. There was no evidence of caretakers either withholding food during illness or providing extra food during the convalescent phase. The magnitude of illness-associated differences in these children's daily intake was small relative to the deficit in their intakes, even on healthy days, when compared to the amounts recommended for this age group.