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The evolution of some nutritional anthropometric indicators was studied in a 115 breast-feeding infants (52 received breast-feeding during the first four months of life (120 days) exclusively and 63 mixed feeding). Breast feeding infants showed sustained weight increment during the four weeks of evolution. The multivariate repeated measures analysis performed, proved significant changes during evolution's time in all studied indicator in lineal form, as well as interaction between type of feeding and indicators evolution except the subescapular fat fold. Author concluded that it should be reinforced the breast-feeding practice promotion as an effective way for the nutritional recovery of breast-feeding infants with persistent diarrhoea.

75 patients, less than one year old, admitted in our Hospital, from January 1991 to april 1992 were divided in three groups: Group I: 25 controls, group II 25 patients with acute diarrhoea and group III 25 patients with persistent diarrhoea. The serological status of vitamin A was evaluated and classified as normal, not severe deficiency and severe deficiency. It was demonstrated that vitamin A deficiency is a risk factor for persistent diarrhoea.

The results of a clinic assay with an extract made out of propolis (bee glue) or "Propolisina" were showed with the aim of showing its effectivity against giardiasis. One hundred and thirty eight patients were studied 48 children and 90 adults, in 2 groups and they selected aleatorily to be treated with "Propolosina" or an imidazole derivate (tinidazole). The method for an exact diagnosis in children was duodenal aspiration and in adults duodenal mucosa frotis by means of duodenoscopy. Similar studies were carried out as a cure criterium in a 5-day term after being through with the treatment. Propolisina was used with different concentrations: in children (concentration at 10%) results showed a 52% cure. In 40 adults (concentration at 20%) it was obtained a similar result to that of tinidazole; and when propolisina concentration was elevated at 30% in the remaining 50 patients there was a higher effectivity (60 of cure Vs 40% with tinidazole). This work shows the success of this natural product, which is very easy to obtain in Cuba and with no side effects in the treatment of this intestinal parasitism, what is of great economical importance for our countries.

Two hundred children hospitalized in the National Institute of Gastroenterology were studied during the 1972-1980 period. The children, whose ages ranged between six months and ten years, presented chronic diarrhea in which Giardia lamblia was considered the causative agent. The diagnosis of parasitism was made with the detection of Giardia lamblia in the feces and/or duodenal content. A serum D-Xylose and jejunal biopsy were performed on all the patients and the histology of the mucosa was classified in keeping with the degree of atrophy according to Metayer and Laumonier. In our study we divided the patients into three groups: Group 1, parasitism due to Giardia lamblia in patients with a normal D-xylose and different degrees of atrophy of the jejunal mucosa, but with normal D-Xylose and Group 3, malabsorption due to Giardia lamblia, with a pathological D-Xylose and alterations in the intestinal mucosa. There were 35 cases in Group 1 (17.5%), 91 cases in Group 2 (45.5%) and 74 cases in Group 3 (37%). The predominant intestinal lesion was partial atrophy of the villi (143), 20 with subtotal atrophy of the villi and two with complete atrophy of the villi. It was shown that the host's response to infection by Giardia lamblia varies with differing effects on the structures and functioning of the jejunal mucosa. It is important to group patients with chronic diarrhea due to Giardia lamblia in this way since it allows for and individualized clinical approach and provides a prognosis in terms nutritional consequences resulting from possible persistence of the diarrhea and possible associated lactose intolerance.