Digestive Enzyme Problems in Infants

Digestive enzymes are made in the pancreas. Usually a digestive enzyme problem is caused by pancreatic insufficiency where the pancreas either dose not make digestive enzymes or they are somehow blocked on their way to the stomach. The two most common causes of pancreatic insufficiency are Cystic Fibrosis and Shwachman Diamond Syndrome

Lack of weight gain.

• One of the first things that a parent might notice if her child has a digestive enzyme problem is a lack of weight gain. Sometimes, an infant will initially gain weight and then start to level off and then drop on the growth curve. This is due to food being digested properly but not absorbed.

Foul smelling stools.

• Infants with a digestive enzyme problem have frequent, foul smelling stools. You may even find drops of oil due to the undigested fats.

Testing

• If you are concerned that your infant has a digestive enzyme problem, ask your doctor to perform a fecal fat test to see if the fats in your child's diet are being digested properly. If they are not, there could be a problem. You can also request blood tests.

Medications

• Infants with digestive enzyme problems can be treated with artificial enzymes prescribed by the child's doctor. They must be taken before each meal and before snacks.

Dietary changes

• An infant on enzyme replacement can have a normal diet as long as he continues to receive medication. The doctor may recommend a formula that is easier to digest than typical formulas. Some of these formulas have to be ordered through a pharmacy. Children do not need to take enzymes before eating fruits because enzymes are not needed to break down fruit sugars.

As they grow.

• As the infant becomes a toddler, her digestive enzyme problem will need to be monitored by a doctor. The enzyme dosage will increase as the child ages. In some cases, a child can outgrow a digestive enzyme problem and replacement therapy can be stopped.