title: [Early enteral feeding of infants with lower respiratory infections].
abstract: A decrease in food intake during the acute phase of lower respiratory tract infections may affect the course of illness. To determine if enteral feeding improves the clinical course of lower respiratory infections (LRI) we studied 42 infants (2 to 12 months of age) with LRI which were given antibiotics and salbutamol therapy based on clinical and X-ray findings. On admission to the hospital patients were randomly allocated to group A (fed by nasogastric tube as intermittent bolus); group B (infants fed by continuous drip via nasogastric tube) and group C (subjects fed ad-libitum by the oral route). Feedings consisted of powdered whole cow's milk formula, reconstituted to 7.5% (W/V), with added sucrose 5% and maltodextrin 5% (77 kcal/dl). Energy intake in group A increased from 69 to 110 kcal.kg.day; in group B, from 68 to 114 kcal.kg.day, and in group C, from 55 to 109 kcal.kg.day (ANOVA, p < 0.005 for the first three days). Infants of groups A and B had shorter hospital stays than C (8.7 and 8.4 vs. 9.8 days, ANOVA, p < 0.02) and a faster improvement of respiratory failure index (4.1 and 3.8 vs. 5.5. days, p < 0.001). Groups A and B also showed greater decrease in their heart rates (mean 170 down to 134 beats/min) than group C patients (169 down to 142 beats/min), p < 0.01 at discharge from the hospital. No differences were noted in trends of respiratory rate, weight/length, albuminemia, C-reactive protein, erythro-sedimentation rate or glycemia. No adverse effects of nasogastric tube feeding were observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Nutrición y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Universidad de Chile.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lagrutta
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castillo
mesh_terms: D000420:Albuterol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001996:Bronchopneumonia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007228:Infant Nutrition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000420:Albuterol
vernacular_title: Alimentación enteral precoz en lactantes con infección respiratoria baja.