Effect of infection on energy requirements of infants and children.

This is a brief review of the effects of infection and other forms of stress on the energy needs of infants and young children. The results of studies estimating energy expenditure in infants and young children during illness and convalescence were evaluated. Expectations that energy expenditure is influenced by the severity of illness, nutritional status, the nature of the illness, the presence and intensity of 'catch-up growth,' and the stage of convalescence are generally supported by the literature. The qualitative or quantitative nature of responses, however, are not uniform for diverse illnesses in children in diverse planes of nutritional adequacy.