Nursing caries and lactose intolerance.

Caries is associated with fermentable carbohydrates in the diet. Dietary content can be related to personal and cultural preferences, availability of food, or physiologic tolerances. Twenty-seven percent of black children ages 12 to 24 months, in the Baltimore area were reported with symptoms of lactose intolerance. The incidence of lactose intolerance increased to 33 percent by age six years. At the same time, clinical observations of this same population suggested a high prevalence of nursing caries. One purpose of this study was to determine whether parents of black children with nursing caries perceived in their children more severe symptoms of lactose intolerance, which they related to milk products, than did parents of caries-free black children. A second purpose was to determine whether there were differences in feeding habits and types of fluids given children with nursing caries compared with caries-free children. A questionnaire concerning symptoms consistent with lactose intolerance, feeding habits, and fluid-selection was administered to the following groups: parents of 30 black children, ages 18 to 54 months, who were caries-free and parents of 30 black children, ages 18 to 54 months, diagnosed with nursing caries. Chi-square analysis or t-test analysis were performed on results accepting p < 0.05 as significant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)