COMPARISON OF LACTOSE CONTAINING WITH LACTOSE FREE MILK IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE WATERY DIARRHEA - CHILDREN LESS THAN 2 YEARS OF AGE

Background: For infants under two, acute watery diarrhea (AWD) continues to be a major source of illness and mortality, especially in underdeveloped nations. Effective dietary control is necessary because illness can cause severe dehydration and nutritional deficiencies. The main carbohydrate in milk, lactose, can make diarrheal episodes worse for kids who have lactose intolerance. Objective: To compare the mean duration of diarrhea resolution and weight change of lactose free versus lactose containing milk in the management of acute watery diarrhea in children. Methods: It is a Randomized Controlled trial. The research was conducted from April 15, 2023, to April 21, 2024, at pediatric medicine Unit of The Children's Hospital and UCHS Lahore. The children were randomly assigned to two groups using a lottery system. Group A received a lactose-free formula, but Group B received lactose-containing milk. Diarrhea resolution duration was assessed. Three days later, the children's weight was measured with a weighing machine, and any variations in weight were recorded. Results: In Group A, there were 27 (54%) males and 23 (46%) females, whereas Group B had 23 (46%) males and 27 (54%) females. The mean time of diarrhea resolution and mean weight difference between Group A and Group B were significantly different, as evidenced by the significant p-value. Conclusion: Lactose-free formula was shown to be more effective in the dietary control of acute watery diarrhea (AWD), with a shorter duration of diarrhea than lactose-containing formula.