In Brief | Paediatrics & Neonatology | Respiratory Medicine | Infectious Diseases


Effect of Breastfeeding and Preterm Births on the Severity of Lower Respiratory Tract Infections and Associated Risk of Hospitalization in Infants and Toddlers

This is a summary of an article originally published in Global Paediatric Health. It does not represent the original research, nor is it intended to replace the original research. Access the full Disclaimer Information.

Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) pose a significant risk to infants and children under five, especially in developing countries. This 2022 study, published in Global Paediatric Health by Demir et al., explored how breastfeeding duration in infants with a preterm birth history affects the progression of LRTIs in infants. 

Their stated aim was to investigate:

“…the effect of duration of breastfeeding and history of prematurity on the duration of hospitalization in infants with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) because these may reflect the severity of illness and sizable direct and indirect healthcare costs”. 
 

The prospective study examined several predefined parameters, including a history of preterm birth (defined as birth before 37 weeks of gestation), breastfeeding duration, laboratory findings (blood culture and CRP), hospitalization rate and duration, and wheezing/atopy history in lower respiratory tract infections in children. Patients with chronic diseases or immunodeficiency were excluded.

Data were reviewed from 125 patients hospitalized for LRTIs over a 102 days period. The sample comprised 49 girls and 77 boys aged between 1 and 24 months. The mean age was 9.44 months, with nine patients having a history of premature birth. The average length of stay was 3.9 days. 92 infants (73.6%) received breast milk for at least six months, while 33 (26.4%)had been breastfed for over six months.

Demir et al. reported the following:
 

No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups regarding growth percentiles, radiological findings, positive blood culture for bacteria or positive viral serology testing. 

A statistically significant difference was observed in the positive C-reactive protein (CRP) results rate between the two groups: 30 out of the 33 infants(91%) in the shorter breastfed group had a negative CRP vs 85 (92%) of  infants who had been breastfed for at least 6 months

A statistically significant difference was observed in the duration of hospitalization between the two groups: 33%% of those breastfed for less than six months had stays of more than six days vs 16% in the group that were breastfed for longer.

No statistical difference was found between the two groups regarding atopy incidence or wheezing attacks. 

The researchers concluded that the significant differences observed in factors like CRP levels and duration of hospitalization validated the assumption that infants breastfed for over six months had milder infections and shorter hospital stays during their recovery from LRTIs. 

Demir A, Özdemir Karadas N, Karadas U. Effect of Breastfeeding and Preterm Births on the Severity of Lower Respiratory Tract Infections and Associated Risk of Hospitalization in Infants and Toddlers. Global Pediatric Health. 2022;9. doi:10.1177/2333794X221089762