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Breastfeeding protects against acute gastroenteritis due to rotavirus in infants

Anita Plenge-Bönig1, Nelís Soto-Ramírez, Wilfried Karmaus

  • 1Institute for Hygiene and Environment, Hamburg, Germany.

European Journal of Pediatrics
|July 10, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Breastfeeding significantly reduces the risk of rotavirus (RV) acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in infants. This protective effect is most pronounced in infants aged 0-6 months, highlighting breastfeeding

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is a common illness in infants.
  • Rotavirus (RV) is a leading cause of severe AGE in young children.
  • Breastfeeding is recognized for its health benefits, but its specific role against RV infection requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if breastfeeding offers protection against rotavirus (RV)-positive AGE compared to RV-negative AGE in infants aged 0-12 months.
  • To evaluate the impact of breastfeeding on RV infection severity and incidence.
  • To provide evidence supporting breastfeeding as a preventive measure against rotavirus gastroenteritis.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study design was employed using data from a community-based study in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.
  • Infants with AGE were categorized into rotavirus-positive (RV+) and rotavirus-negative (RV-) groups.
  • Log-linear regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusting for relevant covariates.

Main Results:

  • A total of 1,256 stool samples were analyzed; 315 (25%) were RV+ and 941 were RV-.
  • Breastfeeding was associated with a reduced risk of RV+ AGE (OR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.37-0.76).
  • The protective effect of breastfeeding was more significant in infants aged 0-6 months (OR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.19-0.55) compared to those aged 7-12 months.

Conclusions:

  • Breastfeeding demonstrates a significant protective effect against rotavirus infection in infants.
  • The protective benefits of breastfeeding against rotavirus gastroenteritis are particularly strong in infants under six months of age.
  • Promoting breastfeeding is crucial for reducing the burden of rotavirus-related gastroenteritis in infants prior to vaccination.

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