Force-Feeding May Harm Infants: Research
New Delhi: Force-feeding lentil-based foods like dal during weaning may lead to a rare but serious lung condition in infants known as Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (HP), according to new research.
The illness, which mimics pneumonia in symptoms, requires a distinct approach to diagnosis and treatment.
Doctors at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital conducted a 13-month study, published in the Journal of Paediatric Respirology and Critical Care, that underscores growing concerns in Indian paediatric healthcare about certain weaning practices.
The research emphasises the importance of educating caregivers and medical professionals about proper weaning techniques and their associated risks.
"Parents need to be aware that a simple act like pushing a child to eat can have serious consequences," the study authors warned.
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he study examined nine cases of infants under three years old, mostly boys, who exhibited persistent respiratory symptoms—cough, difficulty breathing, and fever—that did not respond to standard treatments. All had a history of forceful feeding of lentil-based foods during weaning.
HP is an allergic reaction in the lungs caused by repeated inhalation or aspiration of fine particles. In these cases, lentil particles entered the infants' airways due to aggressive feeding, triggering immune responses and lung inflammation.
This condition differs from typical food allergies, which result from ingestion. In HP, the problem arises from aspiration, especially during forced feeding in infants with immature swallowing reflexes.
Laboratory tests in the affected children showed elevated levels of lentil-specific IgG antibodies. Chest CT scans revealed persistent lung opacities, initially resembling chronic infections. After ruling out tuberculosis and fungal causes, the allergic origin of the illness was confirmed. All patients improved following cessation of forceful feeding and treatment with oral steroids.
The research team from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital's Institute of Child Health included specialists from various departments.
Dr Anil Sachdev, senior paediatric pulmonologist and lead author, stressed the importance of thorough clinical assessment and radiological and immunological evaluations in such cases.
Co-author of the study, Dr Dhiren Gupta, who is co-director, paediatric pulmonologist, explained how force-feeding can lead to repeated aspiration, particularly in infants with underdeveloped swallowing reflexes.
Dr Suresh Gupta, paediatric emergency and allergy specialist, highlighted how force-feeding, while common in Indian households, poses serious health risks. Fellow authors Dr Deepak Kumar and Dr Neeraj Gupta advised medical professionals to consider food-related hypersensitivity when treating persistent pneumonia cases involving lentil consumption.
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