Feeding practices among the infants presenting with acute diarrhea

Abstract

Introduction: To study various feeding practices in children who present with acute watery diarrhea. The objective of the study was not only to study the feeding patterns but also draw an association between different feeding patterns and acute diarrheal episodes. Setting: Outdoor and indoor unit of Department of Paediatrics Jinnah Hospital affiliated with Allama Iqbal Medical College Lahore. Subject: Two hundred and fifty patients with acute watery diarrhea of less then 14 days between the ages of 1 month to 1 year were included in the study. Methods: It was a case control cross sectional study. The data related to 250 patients was collected. The required information was obtained from mother/ attendant of the infant in the questionnaire. All the questionnaire were filled by the doctors. Results: The majority of the infants with acute diarrhea were between 4 months to 1 year 195 (78%). Forty two (17%) were exclusively breastfed while 78 (31 %) exclusively bottle-fed. Fifty five (22%) had both breast feeding as well as bottle feeding. A large number of mothers 112 (44.8%) gave the reason of insufficient milk for the baby. Conclusion: Majority of the infants with acute diarrhea episodes were between 8 and 12 months when either breast milk is being replaced by bottle milk or improper weaning practices are being used. A large number of infants with acute diarrhea were either mixed fed or bottle fed. Because of increased mixed and bottle feeding there is high incidence of diarrhea in our community.