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Feeding efficiency and respiratory integration in infants with acute viral bronchiolitis
L L Pinnington1, C M Smith, R E Ellis
1Division of Rehabilitation and Ageing, University of Nottingham, Derby, United Kingdom.
Insights
Infants with bronchiolitis show reduced feeding efficiency, consuming less milk per swallow. Their coordination of breathing during feeding is also significantly impaired, impacting overall intake.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric respiratory illness
- Infant feeding dynamics
- Respiratory-digestive coordination
Background:
- Bronchiolitis is a common respiratory infection in infants.
- Feeding difficulties can exacerbate illness severity and prolong recovery.
- Understanding the impact on feeding is crucial for clinical management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how bronchiolitis affects an infant's ability to feed efficiently.
- To assess the integration of breathing and swallowing during feeding in infants with bronchiolitis.
Main Methods:
- Compared feeding parameters in 21 infants with bronchiolitis versus 21 healthy infants.
- Measured sucking duration, swallow frequency, suck and swallow volumes, and respiratory patterns.
- Re-evaluated a subset of bronchiolitis patients during recovery.
Main Results:
- Infants with bronchiolitis spent less time sucking and had reduced suck volumes.
- Swallow volumes were significantly lower in the bronchiolitis group, despite slightly higher swallow frequency.
- Breathing and swallowing coordination was markedly less effective in infants with bronchiolitis.
Conclusions:
- Bronchiolitis significantly impairs feeding efficiency and respiratory integration during feeding.
- While some feeding aspects are resilient, coordination deficits persist.
- Findings highlight the need for supportive feeding strategies during respiratory illness.
Objective:
To examine the effects of bronchiolitis on feeding efficiency and respiratory integration.
Study Design:
We studied 21 infants with bronchiolitis and 21 bottle-fed healthy infants who formed a comparison group. Repeat evaluations of half the bronchiolitis group were performed during recovery. During each feeding study we measured the duration and frequency of sucking, the frequency of single and multiple swallows, the respiratory rate, the postswallow respiratory direction, and the suck and swallow volumes.
Results:
The infants with bronchiolitis devoted significantly less time to sucking than their healthy peers (P <.05), and the mean suck volume was reduced. Although the frequency of swallowing was slightly higher, the volume of milk consumed per swallow was almost half the amount consumed by the comparison group (P <.01). Coordination of breathing with swallowing was also less effective (P <.01).
Conclusion:
Although most aspects of feeding are less efficient during periods of respiratory illness, others are preserved or recover rapidly. Coordination of breathing during feeding is also significantly impaired.
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