Background: Exclusive breast feeding during first six months of life is the recommended method of feeding in infant. However, inadequate feeding (either due to maternal problems or breast related problems), high ambient temperature (summer) can lead to dehydration fever which has serious complications like hypernatremic
dehydration and, hence needs to be identified early and promptly treated.
Aim: To study the clinical profile, risk factors, complications and outcome of dehydration fever in healthy breastfed term neonates.
Methods: This is a prospective study including all breast fed babies with evidence of dehydration and weight loss (>10%) admitted to NICU of referral hospital from March 2015 to June 2015.
Results: Total of 368 babies were admitted in NICU during the study period. 49 neonates were having dehydration fever and hence, included in this study. Incidence of dehydration fever was 13.31% in hospitalized neonates. Age ranged from 2-23 days with mean age of 4.31 days. Male: female ratio was 1.2:1. Feeding was inadequate in 75% babies. Fever was the commonest complaint (71.42%) followed by jaundice, not feeding well and reduced urine output. Hypernatremia and AKI were noted in 83.67% and 18.36% cases respectively.
Conclusion: Exclusive breast feeding is the norm of infant feeding in first 6 months of life Breastfeeding is universally considered to be the best and the safest way to feed neonates. In breastfed infants, dehydration is a serious complication because of improper feeding. Early detection of serious weight loss, decreased frequency
of urination may help for early diagnosis of dehydration related to breastfeeding failure. Advice to mothers regarding keeping babies just warm and recognising signs of fever and warning signs of dehydration fever are the need of the hour.
Key words: Dehydration Fever, Breastfeeding, Hypernatremia, Acute kidney injury
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