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Feeding problems in infants and young children with chronic lung disease
Author(s) -
Martin M.,
Shaw N. J.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of human nutrition and dietetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.951
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1365-277X
pISSN - 0952-3871
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-277x.1997.00062.x
Subject(s) - medicine , incidence (geometry) , pediatrics , enteral administration , lung disease , vomiting , disease , parenteral nutrition , lung , physics , optics
Aim: To determine the frequency and nature of feeding problems in infants with oxygen dependent chronic lung disease (CLD). Methods: A questionnaire regarding the feeding history of the infant was administered to parents of infants with CLD and a control group. Results: Forty‐seven infants with CLD and 35 control infants were studied. Fewer infants in the CLD group fed well once established on milk feeds compared to the control group (49% vs. 77%; P <0.05) and a greater number had significant vomiting under the age of 6 months when compared to controls (66% vs. 37%; P <0.05). The CLD group had a significantly higher incidence of feeding problems compared to the controls, including recurrent spitting out of food (34% vs. 3%), refusal of food (38% vs. 26%) or gagging on food (47% vs. 6%). Twenty‐three per cent of infants in the CLD group required enteral feeding beyond 3 months of age, and 19% had a second episode of enteral feeding. Conclusion: The incidence of feeding problems in infants with CLD is high. Strategies aimed at reducing these problems need to be identified and evaluated.