Nutrition management of congenital glucose–galactose malabsorption: Case report of a Chinese infant

RATIONALE: Congenital glucose–galactose malabsorption (CGGM) is a rare, autosomal recessive, hereditary disease that usuallypresents in newborns. CGGM manifests as severe diarrhea, hyperosmolar dehydration, and malnutrition. It does not respond to routine treatment and often is life-threatening. PATIENT CONCERNS: We described a Chinese infant girl with refractory diarrhea, who suffered from severe dehydration and malnutrition even if with fluid replacement therapy and fed with several special formulas. DIAGNOSES: The genetic analysis identified CGGM with SLC5A1 mutations. c.1436G > C (p.R479T) was a novel mutation. INTERVENTIONS: The patient was managed by free-glucose and galactose formula, and then special low-carbohydrate dietary therapy. OUTCOMES: The patient improved immediately after starting a free-glucose and galactose formula, and kept healthy with special low-carbohydrate diet. She had been followed up with nutritional management for 20 months. LESSONS: This report highlights the importance of differential diagnosis of congenital diarrhea and enteropathies. For CGGM, free-glucose and galactose milk powder was the most effective treatment. Low-carbohydrate diet gradually introduced was still a great challenge that requires continuing guidance from child nutritionists and dietitians. Long-term nutrition management was extremely important to ensure the normal growth and development of children.