Lactose malabsorption in Central Australian Aboriginal children hospitalized with acute enteritis

Abstract

The prevalence and duration of lactose malabsorption was studied in 64 Central Australian Aboriginal children requiring hospitalization for acute enteritis. Lactose malabsorption was determined by the breath‐hydrogen test. Sixty‐nine per cent were shown to malabsorb lactose, a figure similar to that for well nourished urban European children, hospitalized for acute enteritis. Whereas 90 per cent of the European children became lactose‐tolerant 1 month later, only three of 32 aboriginal children were lactose‐tolerant after 3 months. Lactose malabsorption was also associated with more frequent hospitalizations in affected children.