ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND AIM: New prospective studies concerning feeding and bowel habits of term and preterm infants from birth to 24 months of life are needed. The aim of the present study was to describe and compare feeding and bowel habits between term- and preterm-born infants starting from birth up to the age of 24 months. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between August and November 2006 all of the infants admitted to an academic and nonacademic neonatal care unit with gestational age 25 to 42 weeks participated in the study. Bowel diaries were recorded 1 and 2 weeks, and 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after birth. Infants with gastrointestinal surgery, neurological diseases, metabolic diseases, or congenital abnormalities were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 199 (126 preterm) infants were eligible; 153 gave consent for participation. Although feeding frequency was higher in the first 3 months in the preterm born, overall feeding frequency decreased between the first 3 follow-up periods (P < 0.001) in both groups. In the first and second week, breast-fed infants had 2.41 more episodes of defecation per week compared with the formula-fed infants (P = 0.017 and P = 0.021, respectively). Higher median (10th percentile-90th percentile) defecation frequency was only found in week 1 in the term compared with the preterm group (24 [9.4-31.6] versus 16 [6.5-31]; P = 0.002). The overall median defecation frequency was 16 (7-30) per week from birth up to the age of 24 months over the total group of participating infants. CONCLUSIONS: Term and preterm infants have a comparable defecation frequency from the second week of life up to the age of 24 months.
Subject(s)
Bottle Feeding , Breast Feeding , Defecation , Infant, Premature/physiology , Child, Preschool , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Term BirthABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: First passage of stool after birth, meconium, is delayed in preterm infants compared to term infants. The difference in duration of meconium passage until transition to normal stools has however never been assessed in preterm and term infants. HYPOTHESIS: Preterm infants have prolonged duration of passage of meconium (PoM) compared to term infants. METHODS: Between August and November 2006, all infants born in an academic and non-academic hospital with gestational age (GA) 25-42 weeks and without metabolical, congenital diseases or gastrointestinal disorders, were included. Infants were divided into four groups: (A) GA < or =30 weeks; (B) GA between 31 and 34 weeks; (C) GA between 35 and 36 weeks; (D) GA > or = 37 weeks (term born). RESULTS: A total of 198 infants (102 males); 32, 62, 33 and 71 infants in groups A, B, C and D, respectively, were included. With decreasing gestation a trend was found for delayed first PoM (p<0.001). Compared to term infants 79% (56/71), less preterm infants passed their first stool within 24 h after birth--group A: 44% (14/32); group B: 68% (42/62); and group C: 73% (24/33). With decreasing gestation a trend for prolonged PoM was found (p<0.001). The mean (SD) PoM duration was prolonged in group A: 7.8 days (2.5); group B: 4.3 days (2.4); and group C: 2.9 days (1.3) compared to term infants. Furthermore, PoM was associated with birth weights < or =2500 g (p = 0.03) and morphine therapy (p = 0.03). Duration of PoM was not associated with type of feeding, small for gestational age, large for gestational age or need for respiratory support. CONCLUSION: PoM was not only delayed but also prolonged in preterm infants. Duration of PoM was associated with GA, birth weight and morphine therapy.
Subject(s)
Gastrointestinal Transit/physiology , Infant, Premature/metabolism , Meconium/physiology , Analgesics, Opioid/pharmacology , Birth Weight/physiology , Female , Gastrointestinal Transit/drug effects , Humans , Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena , Infant, Newborn/metabolism , Meconium/drug effects , Meconium/metabolism , Morphine/pharmacology , Pregnancy , Time Factors , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
We present a case of intensified therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of citalopram in mother and newborn infant after clinically observed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)-associated symptoms 2 weeks until 2 months after delivery. The SSRI-associated symptoms observed in the infant (up to 3 weeks after delivery) were irregular breathing, sleep disorders, hypotonia, and hypertonia. We conclude that the SSRI-associated symptoms in the infant represent citalopram withdrawal effects rather than side effects caused by breastfeeding. This case illustrates the importance of a flexible TDM program and a multidisciplinary approach in a hospital setting to deal with cases of drug-associated adverse effects, such as SSRI withdrawal effects.
Subject(s)
Citalopram/adverse effects , Drug Monitoring/methods , Lactation/metabolism , Milk, Human/chemistry , Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome/etiology , Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors/adverse effects , Adult , Citalopram/blood , Citalopram/metabolism , Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Male , Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome/diagnosis , Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome/physiopathology , Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors/blood , Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors/metabolismABSTRACT
A 9-year-old girl presented with irreversible striae, due to prolonged local corticosteroid use.
