Conhecimento dos enfermeiros sobre alergia à proteína do leite de vaca e intolerância à lactose.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Exclusive breastfeeding (AME) is recommended by the Ministry of Health until the first six months of life and, in a complementary way, up to two years. However, for some reasons, some children are not or can not be breastfed, and may predispose to the development of two breastfeeding disorders: cow's milk protein allergy (APLV) and lactose intolerance (IL). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the knowledge of nurses at the Basic Health Units of the Family (UBSF) in the city of Cuité, on allergy to cow's milk protein and lactose intolerance. METHODS: This is an observational and descriptive cross - sectional study with a quantitative approach integrated into a broader project entitled Allergy to Cow's Milk Protein and Lactose Intolerance: nurses' knowledge and anthropometric profile. The data collection was carried out from June to August 2017 through a structured script for consultation in the medical records of children attended in the 0-24 month age group, and a form directed to the nurse, aimed at the professional's knowledge about the two diseases, through the technique of interview. RESULTS: In this study, 8 nurses participated in the Basic Family Health Unit. The population was predominantly female, with ages varying mostly between 25 and over 40 years of age. It was observed that most nurses understood the defining characteristics of pathologies as well as most of the symptoms. We also analyzed 88 charts of children aged 0-24 months, of whom 37 were girls and 51 were boys. Regarding the signs and symptoms of APLV and IL, 24 children presented symptoms related to cow's milk protein allergy and 17 presented symptoms of lactose intolerance. It is observed that 10 children presented alterations in nutritional status. DISCUSSIONS: Although more than half of the interviewees were able to understand the defining characteristics, typical symptoms and how the diagnosis of each pathology is based, they reported that the care of these children is rare, although practically half of the children had some symptomatology indicative of these diseases. This fact demonstrates the absence or fragility of the nurses' knowledge in perceiving that these affections are directly associated with breastfeeding and that this moment is therefore fundamental for a more accurate investigation of this relation milk-allergen and milk-lactose. This fragility gains even more recognition when considering that the age group of the study includes children who are in AME or in complementary breastfeeding. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: The need for training of these professionals is imperative, since breastfeeding needs to be viewed as a broader process, not restricted to the act of breastfeeding, but also to all other conditions involved in this process, such as breastfeeding. allergy to cow's milk protein and lactose intolerance.