Experience shows that food should not be withheld from
infants and children with acute diarrhoea. Depending on their feeding
status, children should receive breast-milk or diluted milk feeds; in
cases of dehydration, these should be offered as soon as initial
rehydration therapy has been completed. Appropriate locally available
foods (cereals) should be offered as soon as the appetite returns. After
the diarrhoea ceases, more than the usual amount of food should b given
for a short period. The routine use of any special infant formula
(lactose-free products) for diarrhoea cases should be strongly
discouraged as they are only rarely necessary and are costly.
