Infected in childhood infections can change the microflora of the respiratory tract, affecting human health in the future.

Perhaps, after such infections, children need treatment with special probiotics for the respiratory tract.

At least, this issue is currently being considered by Swiss researchers.

At the International Congress of the European Respiratory Society (ERS) on September 27, Dr. Inza Korten (Insa Korten) from the University Children's Hospital of Berne reported that the interaction of rhinovirus with respiratory microflora affects the risk of chronic diseases in the future. According to the researcher, this information can be used to develop new strategies for treatment and prevention.

Our skin, the gastrointestinal tract and the respiratory tract are inhabited by certain communities of microorganisms, with which we closely interact throughout our life. The microflora of the respiratory tract and lungs is constantly changing and can play a role in the development of chronic diseases, such as bronchial asthma or chronic bronchitis.

Swiss researchers examined the relationship between respiratory viral infections and the microflora of the nasal mucosa. They included in their study 32 healthy children from the project BILD (Basel Bern Infant Lung Development). All children every two weeks took strokes from the nose, from the 5-week-old age and until the age of 1 year. Each sample was examined for the presence of 12 viruses and the composition of bacterial microflora.

The results of the study showed that the species diversity of the microflora in the nasal mucosa is greatly reduced when the child suffers from a rhinovirus infection with severe clinical symptoms. At the same time asymptomatic rhinovirus infection does not lead to a decrease in the diversity of microflora. This suggests that the immune system of the child, attacking the rhinovirus, simultaneously strikes at the bacterial flora that lives in the nasal mucosa.

Children who during the first year of life often suffered from respiratory viral infections had, by the end of this period, a less diverse microflora. Dr. Corten says that this can affect a child's health in the future. In particular, his susceptibility to infections. At the next stage of his research, Dr. Corten is going to study how the microflora of the nasal mucosa is affected by the baby's nutrition and taking antibiotics.

"We are already faced with this when it comes to the intestinal microflora. Patients are often prescribed a course of probiotics to stabilize the composition of microflora.

If we see similar changes in the microflora of the airways, which may be associated with infections and asthma in the future, is it time to think about preventive measures? ", - says the researcher.

Apparently, scientists are gradually bringing the theoretical base, which will allow the use of probiotics directly for respiratory organs. Such research is often followed by concrete steps on the part of the pharmaceutical industry. Perhaps in the coming years we will see probiotics for the nose in the drugstores or something like that.

medbe. en.

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