{
    "abstract": "Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) affect the respiratory tract, are often caused by viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus and rhinovirus, and present symptoms such as coughing, fever, respiratory distress, and breathing difficulty. The global adherence to exclusive breastfeeding (BF) for the first 6 months of life has reached 44%, supported by the World Health Organization and United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund efforts. BF provides vital nutrients and contributes to infant immune system development, protecting against infections. The role of BF in preventing and reducing complications of ARIs in infants is gaining attention, prompting a review of current data and future research needs. This review aims to summarize the evidence on the role of BF in reducing the risk and severity of ARIs in infants, elucidate the adaptations in breast milk composition during infections, and identify relevant research needs.\nHuman milk (HM) is rich in immunoglobulins, antimicrobial peptides, and immunomodulatory factors that protect against various pathogens, including respiratory viruses. Several studies have demonstrated that BF is associated with a significant reduction in hospitalization, oxygen requirements, and mortality in infants with ARIs. The effectiveness of BF varies according to the specific respiratory virus, and a longer duration of exclusive BF appears to enhance its protective effect. It is documented that the composition of HM adjusts dynamically in response to infections, fortifying the infant's immune defenses. Specific immunological components of HM, including leukocytes and immunoglobulins, increase in response to infection in the infant, contributing to the enhancement of the immune defense in infants. Immune-boosting microRNAs enhance immune transfer to the infants and promote early gut maturation, and the HM microbiome along with other factors modifies the infant's gut microbiome and immune system.\nBF defends infants from respiratory infections, and the investigation of the microRNAs in HM offers new insights into its antiviral properties. The promotion of BF, especially in vulnerable communities, is of paramount importance in alleviating the global burden of ARIs in infancy.",
    "authors": [
        {
            "affiliation": "From the Pediatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.\nDepartment of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, International Hellenic University, Thessaloniki, Greece.",
            "firstname": "Emilia",
            "initials": "E",
            "lastname": "Vassilopoulou"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "From the Pediatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.\nDepartment of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Universit\u00e0 degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.",
            "firstname": "Carlo",
            "initials": "C",
            "lastname": "Agostoni"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.\nPediatric Allergy Outpatient Clinic, Department of Pediatrics, \"Karamandaneio\" Children's Hospital of Patra, Patras, Greece.",
            "firstname": "Gavriela",
            "initials": "G",
            "lastname": "Feketea"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "From the Pediatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.",
            "firstname": "Ilaria",
            "initials": "I",
            "lastname": "Alberti"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Universit\u00e0 degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.\nFondazione I.R.C.C.S. Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Milan, Italy.",
            "firstname": "Maria Lorella",
            "initials": "ML",
            "lastname": "Gianni"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "From the Pediatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.\nDepartment of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Universit\u00e0 degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.",
            "firstname": "Gregorio Paolo",
            "initials": "GP",
            "lastname": "Milani"
        }
    ],
    "conclusions": null,
    "copyrights": "Copyright \u00a9 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.",
    "doi": "10.1097/INF.0000000000004454",
    "journal": "The Pediatric infectious disease journal",
    "keywords": [],
    "methods": null,
    "publication_date": "2024-07-10",
    "pubmed_id": "38986006",
    "results": null,
    "title": "The Role of Breastfeeding in Acute Respiratory Infections in Infancy.",
    "xml": "<Element 'PubmedArticle' at 0x788506c4c3b0>"
}