Naslov
Effect of breastfeeding on the course of rotavirus infection in hospitalized infants - a retrospective study

Autori
Zahariev, Venera ; Lukić- Grlić, Amarela ; Istanbuli, Lana ; Hojsak, Iva.

Izvornik
Nutritional therapy & metabolism (1828-6232) 29 (2011), 2; 102-106

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
Rotavirus; Diarrhea; Breastfeeding; Children

Sažetak
Than 50% of cases are caused by rotavirus. The aim of our study was to determine the role of breastfeeding on the course of rotavirus infection in hospitalized infants during a period of two years. Methods: The study was a retrospective analysis which included all infants with proven rotavirus gastroenteritis that were hospitalized at Children’s Hospital Zagreb during the two-year study period. The cohort was divided into two groups according to breastfeeding: group 1 consisted of children who were exclusively breastfed or who had never taken any infant formula, and group 2 consisted of children on infant formula who were not breastfed. We also performed a subgroup analysis of children younger than six months who did not receive any complementary feeding. Results: The study included 71 children, 17 (23.9%) in group 1 and 54 (76.1%) in group 2. Group 1 had significantly less diarrhea than group 2 (5.9 vs 8.3 episodes, p=0.03). In addition, in group 1 there were fewer vomiting episodes and a shorter duration of symptoms, but without statistical significance (1 vs 2.3, p=0.14, and 3.9 days vs 4.4 days, p=0.35, respectively). In the subgroup of children younger than six months of age (n=48) we observed a statistically smaller number of diarrheal stools (5.6 vs 8.8, p=0.009) and vomiting episodes (0.5 vs 2.9, p=0.01) but no difference in the duration of symptoms (3.7 days vs 4.9 days, p=0.08). Conclusion: Our study showed a significant positive effect of breastfeeding on the symptoms of rotavirus diarrhea, especially in infants younger than six months.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

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