Richard Riya Mary, Maziashvili Giorgi, Tran Mai, Ramos Isabel, Laxman Anusha S, Didbaridze Nino
Faculty of Medicine, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, GEO.
Faculty of Medicine, Tbilisi State Medical University, Tbilisi, GEO.
Cureus. 2023 Jul 18;15(7):e42075. doi: 10.7759/cureus.42075. eCollection 2023 Jul.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has notably impacted healthcare systems and everyday life worldwide. Regulatory authorities have approved the emergency use of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines due to the rapid spread of the virus. However, during vaccination testing, pregnant and breastfeeding women were initially excluded, leading to a lack of evidence-based recommendations. When taking the COVID-19 pandemic into account, breastfeeding has emerged as a potential defense mechanism against this infection due to its numerous benefits for newborns. Human breast milk contains immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, and IgM), lactoferrin, and various cells that play an inevitable role in the newborn's protection against respiratory infections and immune system development. Various studies have highlighted that the onset and severity of respiratory infections in infants can be reduced through breastfeeding, and the effects are noticeable during the first six months of life and that breast milk also has the potential to enhance mucosal immunity and promote a diverse microbiome, reducing the risk of asthma, allergies, and enteric diseases through the provision of specific antibodies and immunological factors. Researchers have indicated that breastfeeding mothers who contracted and recovered from COVID-19 or received vaccination passed protective antibodies to their infants through breast milk. Although rare cases of detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in breast milk have been reported, the virus has not been cultured from these samples, suggesting a low risk of transmission to the breastfed baby. However, further research is essential to understand the extent of protection provided by breast milk against COVID-19 and the potential effect of distinct phases of lactation. Nonetheless, the current evidence supports the benefits and safety of breastfeeding during the pandemic. With appropriate safety measures, promoting breastfeeding can contribute to the overall health and well-being of infants during the phase of COVID-19.
2019冠状病毒病（COVID-19）由严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）引起，对全球医疗系统和日常生活产生了显著影响。由于该病毒的迅速传播，监管机构已批准紧急使用SARS-CoV-2疫苗。然而，在疫苗接种测试期间，孕妇和哺乳期妇女最初被排除在外，导致缺乏循证建议。考虑到COVID-19大流行，母乳喂养因其对新生儿有诸多益处，已成为抵御这种感染的一种潜在防御机制。人乳中含有免疫球蛋白（IgA、IgG和IgM）、乳铁蛋白以及各种细胞，这些在新生儿抵御呼吸道感染和免疫系统发育中发挥着不可或缺的作用。多项研究强调，母乳喂养可降低婴儿呼吸道感染的发病几率和严重程度，且在生命的前六个月效果显著，母乳还有增强黏膜免疫力和促进微生物群多样化的潜力，通过提供特定抗体和免疫因子降低哮喘、过敏和肠道疾病的风险。研究人员指出，感染COVID-19并康复或接种疫苗的母乳喂养母亲会通过母乳将保护性抗体传递给婴儿。尽管有报告称在母乳中检测到SARS-CoV-2 RNA的罕见病例，但尚未从这些样本中培养出该病毒，这表明传染给母乳喂养婴儿的风险较低。然而，有必要进一步研究以了解母乳对COVID-19的保护程度以及不同哺乳期阶段的潜在影响。尽管如此，目前的证据支持在大流行期间母乳喂养的益处和安全性。采取适当的安全措施，促进母乳喂养有助于在COVID-19期间婴儿的整体健康和福祉。
