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Research progress on microecology and childhood respiratory infections via the lung-gut axis

Zhixuan He1, Zixuan Wang1, Jiao Yin2

  • 1Institute of Infection, Immunology and Tumor Microenvironment, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, Medical College, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.

Frontiers in Pediatrics
|July 4, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Probiotics can help children with respiratory tract infections (RTIs) by balancing gut bacteria. Understanding the lung-gut axis offers new ways to prevent and treat RTIs in kids.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pediatrics
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) disproportionately affect children globally.
  • Gut dysbiosis in children is linked to respiratory issues via the lung-gut axis.
  • The lung-gut axis involves shared immune systems and embryological origins between the lungs and gut.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the pediatric respiratory tract's normal microecology.
  • To examine microecological shifts in children with RTIs.
  • To explore the lung-gut axis interactions and probiotic applications in pediatric RTIs.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review on pediatric respiratory microecology.
  • Analysis of studies on gut microbiota and RTIs in children.
  • Synthesis of research on the lung-gut axis and probiotic interventions.

Main Results:

  • Gut dysbiosis is associated with increased susceptibility to pediatric RTIs.
  • Probiotics can counteract antibiotic-induced dysbiosis and resistance.
  • Probiotic use may restore gut microbiota balance and enhance immune responses.

Conclusions:

  • The lung-gut axis is crucial for understanding pediatric respiratory health.
  • Probiotics show potential in preventing and treating pediatric RTIs.
  • Further research into the lung-gut axis microecology can yield novel therapeutic strategies.

Keywords:
gut-lung axismicrobiotamicroecologypediatric respiratory tract infections (RTIs)probiotics

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