Food Difficulties in Infancy and ASD: A Literature Review

PURPOSE

The aim of this literature review is to investigate the potential association between specific food difficulties and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) during the first two years of life.

MATERIALS

The search was conducted in PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase and PsycInfo databases.

RESULTS

Twenty-one studies were synthesized (3763 infants and children). Difficulties during breastfeeding, breast milk refusal and avoidance of taking solids have been linked to ASD. Infants with ASD have been referred to as picky eaters. Problematic mealtime behaviour during infancy has also been associated with ASD.

CONCLUSIONS

The present review highlights the association between food difficulties, including problematic mealtime behaviours, food selectivity, breastfeeding difficulties and food refusal during infancy and ASD early during life, including the first months.

Successful response of severe neonatal gram-negative infection to treatment with aztreonam

Aztreonam was administered to 25 neonates (16 term, 9 premature) with clinically and bacteriologically proved gram-negative infections. Ten patients had meningitis, 9 had septicemia and 6 had urinary tract infections. Patients were between 1 and 28 days of age. Aztreonam was administered intravenously in doses ranging from 40 to 120 mg/kg/day for 10-30 days, depending on the causative organism. All CSF, blood and urine cultures were sterile 48 h after drug treatment had begun. There was no incidence of bacteriologic relapse. Body temperature returned to normal in 96% of patients within 3-4 days of therapy. Aztreonam was well tolerated. One infant experience nausea and vomiting, but no patient was withdrawn from therapy due to adverse reactions.