RESPIRATORY-TRACT AND DIARRHEAL INFECTIONS OF BREAST-FED INFANTS FROMBIRTH TO 6 MONTHS OF AGE IN HOUSEHOLD CONTEXTS OF AN EGYPTIAN VILLAGE

Objective: To investigate the pattern of respiratory tract infections (RTI) and diarrhea among breast-fed infants and the impact of birth we ight, maternal diet during lactation, and household socioenvironmental conditions on these illnesses. Design: A longitudinal household-based study of infant morbidity from birth to 6 months of age. Setting: Kal ama village, Egypt. Subjects: Morbidity information was obtained for 1 19 infants; 80 had longitudinal records over the first 6 months of age . Results: Birth weights were normally distributed and the mean was co mparable to the National Center for Health Statistics reference median . Most infants experienced growth faltering and increased illness epis odes during 3 to 6 months of age. Infants with RTI during the first 3- month period were at a significantly higher risk of developing subsequ ent RTI compared with infants without earlier infections (OR = 5.0, ch i-square 10.4, P < (0.0001). Similar associations were not observed fo r diarrhea. Controlling for earlier RTI, lower maternal intakes of vit amin A or C and animal source energy, protein, riboflavin, zinc or cal cium were associated with more days sick with RTI in infants during 36 months whereas lower birth weight was associated with a longer durati on. Among the variables examined poor household sanitation was the onl y significant predictor of diarrheal illnesses in this population. Con clusions: Infants living in unsanitary households were the main victim s of diarrhea. Duration of RTI was shorter for infants of higher birth weights and sick days were fewer for infants whose mothers consumed m ore animal source foods, vitamin A or vitamin C.