A mother comes with her 3 months' child asking the physician if she can give cereals to her child. What problems can this lead to her child?
(A) Allergy due to the food content (B) Risk of gastrointestinal infection (C) Retarded oro-motor development (D) Contaminated food leading to reflux
(A) Ans: A: Allergy due to the food contentExplanation:(Ref: Nelson 20/e p1139; Ghni 8/e p90)Babies should receive only breast milk or infant formula for the first 6 months of life.Most impoant reason for this is allergy due to the food content.Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 4-6 months of life may reduce allergic disorders in the first few years of life. Potentially allergenic foods (eggs, milk, wheat, soy, peanut and fish) should be introduced after this period of exclusive breastfeeding to decrease chances of food allergy.