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Bacterial infections and pediatric asthma

Matti Korppi1

  • 1Pediatric Research Center, Tampere University and University Hospital, Finmed-3 building, Tampere University 33014, Finland. matti.korppi@uta.fi

Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America
|October 30, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Common bacteria do not cause childhood asthma, but certain infections may contribute. Antibiotic use in infancy is a risk factor, and airway microbiota disruption may play a role in pediatric asthma.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Microbiology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • The role of specific bacteria in pediatric asthma remains unclear.
  • While some infections like Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydophila pneumoniae are linked to asthma symptoms and exacerbations, their exact contribution to pathogenesis is debated.
  • Antibiotic exposure in early life is increasingly recognized as a potential risk factor for developing asthma.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the role of common respiratory pathogens in pediatric asthma.
  • To assess the efficacy of antibiotics in treating pediatric asthma.
  • To explore the potential involvement of airway microbiota in asthma development and progression.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on bacterial infections and pediatric asthma.
  • Analysis of studies investigating antibiotic treatment outcomes in children with asthma.
  • Examination of preliminary evidence from molecular biology studies on lower airway microbiota composition in pediatric lung diseases.

Main Results:

  • Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis do not appear to play a significant role in childhood asthma.
  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydophila pneumoniae can trigger wheezing and exacerbate asthma in children; chronic Chlamydophila infections may contribute to asthma development.
  • Antibiotic therapy has not demonstrated benefits for incipient, stable, or exacerbated pediatric asthma.
  • Infant antibiotic exposure is an independent risk factor for later asthma development.
  • Preliminary findings suggest the lower airways harbor a protective microbiota that can be disrupted in asthma.

Conclusions:

  • The investigated bacterial pathogens have limited direct roles in pediatric asthma, with some atypical bacteria implicated in exacerbations and potential pathogenesis.
  • Antibiotics are not recommended for treating pediatric asthma, and early-life exposure may increase asthma risk.
  • The airway microbiota is emerging as a critical factor in lung health and disease, including pediatric asthma, highlighting potential therapeutic avenues through microbiota modulation.

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