Dehydration and hypernatremia in breast-fed term healthy neonates.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of significant weight loss, dehydration, hypernatremia and hyperbilirubinemia in exclusively breast-fed term healthy neonates and compare the incidence of these problems in the warm and cool months.


METHODS
During the study period 496 neonates were recruited.


RESULTS
157 neonates (31.6%) had significant weight loss (> 10 % cumulative weight loss or per day weight loss > 5%). Clinical dehydration was present in 2.2% of neonates. Of these 157 neonates, 31.8% had hypernatremia and 28 % had hyperbilirubinemia.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of the above mentioned problems were higher in the warm months but the difference was not statistically significant.
Bhat
Swarna Rekha
SR
Department of Pediatrics, St John's Medical College, Bangalore, India. srekha74@rediffmail.com
Lewis
Patricia
P
David
Angela
A
Liza
Sr Maria
SM
D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003681:Dehydration / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D051556:Hyperbilirubinemia, Neonatal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006955:Hypernatremia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology