Normal time for processing food?

core0 · Mar 19, 2007

Can someone tell me what is in the normal ranges for food being processed? My daughter has EE and is on elemental formula right now and limited foods. She has only been on the formula for a couple of months. She is feed via pump because of trouble handling rate and volume by gravity. I gave her some food at noon and at 3:30 the same food was in her BM. Her GI appt isn't for another 2 mos. I am just wondering if this was normal, especially considering the formula, or if we need to make an appt sooner.
*Note: I am not asking for medical advice-- I was just curious what is in the range of normal for food to pass through the GI tract. I have read that 8 hours is average.

In adults the normal for solids is 8-24 hours. Liquids are usually quicker on the order of 4-8 hours. SB transit time for liquids is 90-120 minutes. Kids are quicker. I would still say that 3 1/2 hours is a little quick (although if they are on a primarily liquid diet that may be on the quick end of normal). Depends on the age of the child.

I will say that stool is notoriously hard to differentiate and it is very possible that what you though was the food she just ate was something that she ate some time ago. I would expect a child on an elemental diet to be somewhat constipated to be honest.

Now my question - EE is erosive esophagitis or eosinophilic esophagitis? And how was this diagnosed without seeing GI?

David Carpenter, PA-C

AmericanChai · Mar 19, 2007

Thanks David for your answers. That's good to know that liquids process faster. The food was one she had not had for many weeks, as she has been formula only for some time. She has eosinophilic esophagitis (her scope showed over 100 per hpf) diagnosed in December. She has a good GI doctor. Unfortunately the doctor has a full schedule and it's hard to get in to see her more than every couple of months (weigh-ins don't count). My daughter has had a gtube from infancy (refusal to eat from 3 mos old) so it was not a big deal to introduce the new formula. She is on a very limited diet until her next biopsy. I was surprised that her stools very loose, almost diarrhea, but the Neocate rep said that was normal in some kids. Others have a bm only every few days but she said that's because the nutrition is getting absorbed, not because they are constipated. All the things I never thought I would discuss with a stranger until I had a child with EE! :lol Thanks again! I am not so concerned about it now since liquids pass through faster. I will be sure to mention it to the GI nurse at the weigh-in this week though.