Watery diarrhoea and a vasoactive intestinal peptide secreting ganglioneuroma.

A case of a 12-month-old child with chronic water diarrhoea, weight loss, abdominal distension, hypokalaemia and hypochlorhydria, which were associated with a vasoactive intestinal peptide secreting ganglioneuroma, is reported. Removal of the tumour led to complete clinical and biochemical recovery. Measurement of vasoactive intestinal peptide levels should be included in the evaluation of chronic diarrhoea after the more common causes have been ruled out.