_01.jpg)
_02.jpg)
Arnold School scientists work with international team studying rotavirus
August 2, 2010
Wilfried Karmaus
Nelis Soto-Ramirez
A study by a research team that included scientists from the Arnold School of Public Health has found that breastfeeding is important to protect infants from acute gastroenteritis linked to the rotavirus – particularly in children age six months and younger.
The study’s results, published online in July in the European Journal of Pediatrics, add to the scientific evidence of the protective effect of breastfeeding against rotavirus infection in infants.
Dr. Wilfried Karmaus, a professor in the Arnold School’s Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and Nelis Soto-Ramirez, an Arnold School Ph.D. student in epidemiology, collaborated with scientists from Germany and Michigan State University on the study which examined data from pediatric practices in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
“Although breastfeeding is considered to protect against infections, findings on the protective effect of breastfeeding against rotavirus infection have been largely inconsistent,” Karmaus said.
“Yet, rotavirus is one of the leading causes of gastroenteritis in children,” he said. “In the United States alone, it is estimated that 3.6 million episodes of rotavirus disease occur among children under age 5.”
Healthcare professionals estimate that about 600,000 children worldwide die from complications associated with the rotavirus.
“The rotavirus is a serious health problem for many children,” Karmaus said.
The researchers found several possible explanations for the protective effect of breastfeeding. Among these: Breast milk has a protein known as lactoferrin which may inhibit the adhesion of the rotavirus in the gut of infants. Breast milk also is believed to protect infants from infectious diseases through immunoglobulin A.
Vaccination against the rotavirus is offered at 2, 4 and 6 months of age.
“Until a child is 2 months old, infants seem to be best protected from rotavirus infection by breastfeeding,” the researchers said.
