Feeding Problems

FEEDING PROBLEMS
DURING THE 1ST YEAR
OF LIFE
Dr nabiha najati
2020
OBJECTIVES
AT THE END OF THIS LECTURE YOU SHOULD KNOW:
• Underfeeding & overfeeding (causes, s&s, treatment)

• Regurgitation and vomiting.
• Loose or diarrheal stool
• Colic
• Constipation
Underfeeding
UNDERFEEDING
Underfeeding is suggested by:
* restlessness and crying .
* failure to gain weight adequately.
Result from:
failure to take a sufficient quantity of food even when offered
In these cases,
* the frequency of feedings,
* the mechanics of feeding,
* the size of the holes in the nipple of feeding bottle ,
* the adequacy of eructation of air,
* the possibility of abnormal mother-infant “bonding.
* possible systemic disease in the infant
should be considered
CLINICAL MANIFESTATION:
The extent and duration of underfeeding determine the clinical manifestations:
* Constipation, failure to sleep, irritability, excessive crying are
to be expected.
* Weight gain may be slow, or there may be an actual loss of weight.
In the latter case:

* skin becomes dry and wrinkled.
* subcutaneous tissue disappears.
* the infant assumes the appearance of an “old man.
* Deficiencies of vitamins A, B, C, and D as well as of iron and
protein may be responsible for the characteristics of clinical
Manifestations .
Treatment of underfeeding include:
*increasing nutrient intake
*correcting any deficiencies of vitamins and/or minerals
*instructing the caregiver in the art and practice of infant
feeding
*If an underlying systemic disease, child abuse or neglect, or a
psychological problem is responsible, specific management of
that disorder is necessary.
Overfeeding
OVERFEEDING
As a rule, postprandial discomfort from excessive intake limits

the amount of food an infant voluntarily ingests, but there are
exceptions.
If intake is excessive, regurgitation and vomiting are the most

frequent symptoms.
Diets that are too high in fat delay gastric emptying, cause
abdominal distention and discomfort, and may cause excessive
weight gain.
Diets that are too high in carbohydrate are likely to cause undue
fermentation in the intestine, resulting in distention and
flatulence as well as more rapid weight gain than desirable.
REGURGITATION AND VOMITING
Vomiting, is the Regurgitation
more complete refers to the return
emptying of the of small amounts
stomach, often of swallowed food
occurring some during or shortly
time after feeding after eating.
regurgitation is a natural occurrence, especially during the 1st several months of life.
reduced to a negligible amount by:
* adequate eructation of swallowed air during and after eating, by gentle handling,
*avoiding emotional conflicts,
*placing the infant on the right side for a short time immediately after eating.
Vomiting is one of the most common symptoms in infancy and may be associated with a
variety of disturbances both trivial and serious. Its cause should always investigated
VOMITING:
Define: violent expulsion of gastric and sometimes intestinal contents.
**vomiting caused by obstruction of the GIT is probably mediated by

intestinal visceral afferent nerves stimulating the vomiting
If obstruction occur below the second part of the duodenum,vomitus is

usually bile stained.
With repeated vomiting in the absence of obstructed duodenal content
are refluxed in to the stomach and emesis may become bile stained
center.
GIT EXTRA GIT:
• Chalasia • Hirsch sprung disease • Sepsis

• A chalasia
• Appendicitis Pneumonia
• Hiatal hernia
• Gastroenteritis • Otitis media
• Peptic esophagitis UTI
• F.B
• Hepatitis
• Volvulus • Meningitis
• Intussusceptions Brain tumor
• Pyloric stenosis • Duodenal ulcer
• Malrotation • Adrenal insufficiency
• Gluten enteropathy Inborn error
• Diaphragmatic hernia • Duplication
• Food allergy
L A B O R AT O RY E VA L U AT I O N :
Careful history
Physical examination
Endoscope
Contrast radiography
Brain MRI
Metabolic study(lactate, organic acid, ammonia).
Common IN infants Common in child
• GE
• Esophagial reflux • GE
• Over feeding • Systemic infection
• Anatomical obstruction • Toxic ingestion
• syndrome • Pertussis
• Systemic infection • Medication
Medication • reflux
• Pertussis syndrome
Reflux
Treatment : Hydration 
LOOSE OR
DIARRHEAL
STOOLS
The stool of the breast-fed infant is naturally softer than that of the formula-fed
infant.
From about the 4th to the 6th day of life, the stools of the breast-fed infant go
through a transitional stage of being loose, greenish-yellow in color and
containing mucus to the typical “milk stool.
Subsequently, the use of laxatives or the ingestion of certain foods by the

mother may be temporarily responsible for a breast-fed infant's loose stools.
Excessive intake of breast milk may also increase the frequency and water
content of the stool.
Actual diarrhea from overfeeding, however, is unusual; thus, diarrhea
should be considered infectious until proven otherwise.
Although the stools of formula-fed infants tend to be firmer than those of

breast-fed infants, loose stools also may result from artificial feeding.
Overfeeding may cause loose, frequent stools, particularly during the 1st 2
wk or so of life.
Later, formulas that are too concentrated or too high in sugar content,
especially in lactose, may result in loose, frequent stools..
Tre atme nt
Many diarrheal disturbances in formula-fed infants result
from contaminants that would not disturb an older child.
Mild diarrheal disturbances caused by overfeeding respond

quickly to a temporary decrease or cessation of feeding.
Withholding all solid food as well as 1 or several feedings

and substituting boiled water or a balanced electrolyte
solution is usually all that is required
COLIC
Colic is a symptom complex of paroxysmal
abdominal pain, presumably of intestinal origin,
and severe crying.
It usually occurs in infants younger than 3 mo of

age
THE CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS ARE CHARACTERISTIC.
The attack usually begins suddenly, with a loud, sometimes continuous

cry.
The paroxysms may persist for several hours.

The infant's face may be flushed, or there may be circumoral pallor. The
abdomen is usually distended and tense. The legs may be extended for
short periods, but are usually drawn up on the abdomen.
The feet are often cold, and the hands are usually clenched.
The attack may not terminate until the infant is completely exhausted.
Sometimes, the passage of feces or flatus appears to provide relief.
THE ETIOLOGY
usually is not apparent, , the attacks seem to be associated
*with hunger or with swallowed air that has passed into the
intestine.
*Overfeeding may cause discomfort and distention,
* some foods, especially those with high carbohydrate content,

may result in excessive intestinal fermentation.
*Crying with intestinal discomfort occurs in infants with
intestinal allergy, but colic is not limited to this group.
Colic may mimic intestinal obstruction or peritoneal infection.
Attacks commonly occur in the late afternoon or early evening,

suggesting that events in the household routine may be involved.
Worry, fear, anger, or excitement may cause vomiting in an older child

and may cause colic in an infant, but no single factor consistently
accounts for colic and no treatment consistently provides satisfactory
relief.
management
Careful physical examination is important to eliminate the
possibility of intussusception, strangulated hernia, or other
serious causes of abdominal pain.
Holding the infant upright or prone across the lap or on a hot

water bottle or heating pad occasionally helps.
Passage of flatus or fecal material spontaneously or with
expulsion of a suppository or enema sometimes affords relief.
Carminatives before feedings are ineffective in preventing the

attacks.
Sedation is occasionally indicated for a prolonged attack.
If other measures fail, both the child and the parent may be sedated
for a period.
In extreme cases, temporary hospitalization of the infant, often with

no more than a change in the feeding routine and a period of rest for
the parent, may help.
Prevention of attacks should be sought by improving feeding

techniques, , identifying possibly allergenic foods in the infant's or
nursing mother's diet,
avoiding underfeeding or overfeeding.
Although it is not serious, colic can be particularly
disturbing for the parents as well as the infant. Thus, a
supportive and sympathetic physician can be
particularly helpful, even if attacks do not resolve
immediately.
The fact that the condition rarely persists beyond 3 mo

of age should be reassuring
CONSTIPATION
Constipation is practically unknown in
breast-fed infants receiving an adequate
amount of milk and is rare in formula-fed
infants receiving an adequate intake
The consistency of the stool, not its

frequency, is the basis for diagnosis.
Most infants have 1 or more stools daily, but

some occasionally have a stool of normal
consistency at intervals of up to 36–48 hr.
Whenever constipation or obstipation is present
from birth or shortly after birth, a rectal
examination should be performed.
Tight or spastic anal sphincters may
occasionally be responsible for obstipation, and
finger dilation is frequently corrective.
Anal fissures or cracks may also cause

constipation. If irritation is alleviated, healing
usually occurs quickly.
Aganglionic megacolon may be manifested by constipation in early
infancy; the absence of stool in the rectum on digital examination
suggests this possibility, but further diagnostic work-up is indicated .
Constipationmay be caused by an insufficient
amount of food or fluid.
In some cases, it may result from diets that

are too high in protein or deficient in bulk.
Simply increasing the amount of fluid or

sugar in the formula may be corrective during
the 1st few months of life.
After this age, better results are obtained by adding or increasing the intakes of
cereal, vegetables, and fruits. Prune juice (½–1 oz) may be helpful, but adding
foods with some bulk is usually more effective.
Milk of magnesia may be given in doses of 1–2 tsp, but should be reserved for
unresponsive or severe constipation.
Enemas and suppositories should never be more than temporary measures
Thank You
Dr nabiha najati
2020

Feeding Problems

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FEEDING PROBLEMS

DURING THE 1ST YEAR

• Underfeeding & overfeeding (causes, s&s, treatment)

In the latter case:

As a rule, postprandial discomfort from excessive intake limits

If intake is excessive, regurgitation and vomiting are the most

**vomiting caused by obstruction of the GIT is probably mediated by

If obstruction occur below the second part of the duodenum,vomitus is

• Chalasia • Hirsch sprung disease • Sepsis

Subsequently, the use of laxatives or the ingestion of certain foods by the

Although the stools of formula-fed infants tend to be firmer than those of

Mild diarrheal disturbances caused by overfeeding respond

Withholding all solid food as well as 1 or several feedings

It usually occurs in infants younger than 3 mo of

The attack usually begins suddenly, with a loud, sometimes continuous

The paroxysms may persist for several hours.

*Overfeeding may cause discomfort and distention,

* some foods, especially those with high carbohydrate content,

Attacks commonly occur in the late afternoon or early evening,

Worry, fear, anger, or excitement may cause vomiting in an older child

Holding the infant upright or prone across the lap or on a hot

Carminatives before feedings are ineffective in preventing the

In extreme cases, temporary hospitalization of the infant, often with

Prevention of attacks should be sought by improving feeding

The fact that the condition rarely persists beyond 3 mo

The consistency of the stool, not its

Most infants have 1 or more stools daily, but

Anal fissures or cracks may also cause

In some cases, it may result from diets that

Simply increasing the amount of fluid or

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