Bioelectrical impedance analysis in a group of healthy infants in thefirst years of life.

Background: Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BlA) may be utilized to assess in vivo hydration status or to monitor fluid shifts. This method allows rapid, bedside, single or repeated measurements as it is a safe, non·invasive, portable and inexpensive method. lt has been used for a short time only, in pediatrics, and actually data on this selected group of infants are lacking. The impedentiometrie index resistance standardized by weight and height (SR) seems to be well correlated to the hydration level of the patient. Aims: to evaluate SR as indicator of hydration status versus total body water (TBW) in a group of dehydrated infants affected by diarrhea and in a sample of healthy infants.