Management of sugar intolerance in children.

Sugar intolerance is a common problem in paediatric practice. The usual type is lactose intolerance following gastroenteritis, but it may also occur in a wide variety of disorders of the small bowel. Diagnosis depends upon identification of reducing substances in the stools. An approach to dietary management of lactose intolerance is given and use of a carbohydrate-free formula in secondary monosaccharide intolerance is described. In each situation, threshold for digestion or absorbtion of carbohydrate is approached gradually from below, and overflow detected by Clinitest stool testing.