Health Problems of the Infant

Infants are prone to numerous health problems during the first year of life, which may become serious if not recog­nized and treated appropriately. Many of them may be pre­cipitated by the relative immaturity of the organ systems. Infants are prone to nutritional disturbances, feeding diffi­culties, problems with food allergies, gastroesophageal re­flux, and colic. Injuries, the major cause of death during infancy, are caused by events such as aspiration of foreign objects, suffocation, motor vehicle accidents, falls, poison­ing, burns, and drowning. Childhood diseases may be a problem if the infant is not adequately immunized.