Claudio F. Lanata

Acute Lower Respiratory Infections

Acute respiratory infections are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among infants and children in developing countries. It is estimated that acute respiratory infections cause up to 4.0 million deaths per year in children (1,2), and an important contributing factor to these deaths is malnutrition (3). Acute respiratory infections include both acute upper-respiratory infections and acute lower-respiratory infections. Acute lower-respiratory infections consist primarily of pneumonia, but also include croup, tracheobronchitis, and bronchiolitis. The specific aims of this chapter are to present current knowledge regarding the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of acute lower-respiratory infections, and the potential role of nutrition in treatment and prevention.

Feeding during acute diarrhea as a risk factor for persistent diarrhea

Dietary intake during diarrhea in children less than three years of age was estimated from information recorded on illustrated dietary forms used by childrens caretakers during the first week of illness in a prospective community‐based study of diarrheal diseases in Lima, Peru. The frequency of consumption and the amount consumed of food groups and selected commonly consumed foods were analyzed by the final duration of the diarrheal episode. Cereals were less frequently consumed during the acute phase of diarrheal episodes that ultimately became persistent (>14 days’duration), apparently shortening the duration of the episode by one day (median duration of four days in children not consuming vs three days in children consuming cereals during diarrhea, p<0.02 Kaplan‐Meier logrank test). Only roots and tubers (mainly potatoes) were consumed in greater quantity during episodes that became persistent. There was no evidence that consumption of breast milk or non‐maternal milk was associated with an alteration in diarrheal duration. This study provides further evidence of the beneficial effects of continuing feeding during diarrhea using foods available at the home level, especially cereals, which are commonly used in the diet of young children.