Breastfeeding protects against acute gastroenteritis due to rotavirus in infants.
To assess whether breastfeeding protects against acute gastroenteritis (AGE) due to rotavirus (RV) infection compared to RV-negative AGE (RV-) in children age 0-12 months. Data from a community-based study of children with AGE from 30 pediatric practices in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria were evaluated. A case-control design was conducted with RV-positive AGE (RV+) cases and RV- AGE as controls. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using log-linear regression models adjusting for child's age, family size, number of siblings, child care attendance, and nationality. A total of 1,256 stool samples were collected from infants with AGE; 315 (25%) were RV+ and 941 RV-. Being breastfed in the period of disease inception reduced the risk of AGE due to RV+ (OR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.37-0.76). In infants 0-6 months of age, the protective effect was stronger (OR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.19-0.55) than in 7-12-month-old children. Our study adds to the evidence of a protective concurrent effect of breastfeeding against rotavirus infection in infants, particularly in children 6 months and younger. Breastfeeding is important to diminish rotavirus-related gastroenteritis in infants before vaccination can be introduced.
Plenge-Bönig
Anita
A
Institute for Hygiene and Environment, Hamburg, Germany.
Soto-Ramírez
Nelís
N
Karmaus
Wilfried
W
Petersen
Gudula
G
Davis
Susan
S
Forster
Johannes
J
D000208:Acute Disease; D000367:Age Factors; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology*; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology