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Infectious diseases in infancy have been a cause of concern both in the developed and the developing world. Almost 3.4% to 32.1% infants suffer from respiratory tract infections while 1.2% to 26.3% infants suffer from gastrointestinal infections in industrialized countries, according to a prospective cohort study. These two infections are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in infants. The prevalence of these infectious diseases depends upon factors such as birth weight, gestational age, racial group, condition of living, parental smoking and number of siblings. Several studies done in the past have led us to believe that exclusive breastfeeding can reduce the risk of development of these infectious diseases. 

 

A study led by Duijts et al from Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands, was a part of a population-based prospective cohort study from fetal life onward in the Netherlands, known as the Generation R Study. Rates of exclusive breastfeeding for 4 months and partial thereafter; exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months; and partial breastfeeding for 4 to 6 months were assessed for 4164 mothers. Similarly, doctor attended respiratory tract and gastrointestinal infections until the age of 12 months were also analyzed. 

 

 The researchers found that infants who are exclusively breastfed until they are 4 months old, and then partially till they are 6 months old, or exclusively for 6 months, had a reduced rate of incidence of URTI, LRTI and GI till 6 months of age and reduced incidence of LRTI between the ages of 7 and 12 months. Partial breastfeeding, even when prolonged until the infant is 6 months old, does not seem to offer this protection.

The beneficial effects of exclusive breastfeeding until the infant is 6 months old become obvious in the light of this study. Breastfeeding can play an important role in reducing the morbidity and mortality of infants associated with the infectious diseases of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract. The World Health Organization has recommended that all children should be exclusively breastfed for 6 months instead of 4 months.

 

References:

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/126/1/e18.abstract?ct=ct

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