Nutrition

Abstract

The nutrition of neonates and children has signifi cantly improved over the last 20 years. Most of the nutritional challenges in paediatrics are related to the first year of life. For this reason this chapter focuses on the nutrition of neonates and infants. The newborn infant is in a critical epoch of development not only for the organism as a whole but also for the individual organs and most signifi cantly for the brain. Adequate nutrition in the neonatal period is necessary to avoid the adverse effects of malnutrition on morbidity and mortality and to minimise the future menace of stunted mental and physical development. The survival rate of newborn infants affected by isolated congenital gastrointestinal abnormalities has improved considerably and is now in excess of 90% in most paediatric surgical centres. The introduction of parenteral nutrition and advancement in nutritional management are certainly among the main factors responsible for this improvement. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.