Cost of infant feeding in exclusive and partially breastfed infants.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the costs incurred on infant feeding between the mothers who exclusively breastfed their infants and those who introduced supplements up to 6 months of age. DESIGN: Longitudinal follow up. SETTING: Urban slums of south Delhi. METHODS: One hundred normal mother infant pairs fulfilling the prelaid criteria were recruited at the time of birth and followed up for determining the feeding practices. The cost of feeding was estimated at prevalent market prices in terms of food supplement and medical treatment of infant and additional nutritional intake of mothers. The differences in costs in exclusively and partially breastfed groups were analyzed at 3, 4, 5 and 6 months of age. RESULTS: There was a sharp decline of exclusive breastfeeding from birth to six months. The mean cost of infant feeding was Rs. 204/- per month in partially breastfed as compared to Rs. 106/- in exclusively breastfed at 6 months of age. The increased cost was largely attributable to supplementary food and the cost of feeding bottles. (83% of mothers used bottles). CONCLUSIONS: The mean cost of infant feeding is substantially higher in partially breastfed children.

Esophageal candidiasis following omeprazole therapy: a report of two cases.

Esophageal candidiasis was diagnosed at endoscopy in two patients receiving omeprazole therapy. There was no clinical evidence of immunosuppression or any obstructive lesion in the esophagus. There was prompt response of oral ketoconazole. These cases suggest that marked acid reduction may predispose to esophageal candidial infection.

Developmental assessment of intrauterine growth retarded babies of varying maternal etiology.

Head circumference was measured serially and developmental performance assessed at the age of 9 months in 41 full-term intrauterine growth retarded babies of varying maternal etiologies. 18 full term and 12 preterm babies who were appropriate for gestational age (AGA) served as controls. The IUGR babies of undernourished mothers had maximum retardation in head circumference. The IUGR babies of small sized mothers had head circumference equal to that of fullterm AGA babies. The IUGR babies of mothers with toxemia of pregnancy and idiopathic group also reached very close to that of fullterm AGA babies for head circumference demonstrating catch up growth. 19.5 per cent of IUGR (as homogenous group) babies were found to have delayed development compared to 16.7 per cent of preterm and 5.6 per cent of fullterm AGA babies. Amongst IUGR groups, babies of undernourished mothers were found to suffer most, followed by babies of mothers with toxemia of pregnancy. None of the babies in the idiopathic group and only one out of 12 in small maternal size group were found to have delayed development.