Human breast milk: current concepts of immunology and infectious diseases. Foreword.

I I M T his is a review of the immunologic activities and protective benefits of human breast milk against infection. It details important concepts bout the developing immunity of infants, bioactive actors and antiinflammatory properties of breast milk, ntestinal microflora in infants, probiotics and prebiotcs, and the dynamic interactive effects of breast milk n the developing infant. Studies documenting the rotective effect of breast milk against various infecious diseases in infants are presented, including repiratory infections, diarrhea, otitis media, and infecions in premature infants. Data are provided upporting the current recommendations of 6-months uration of exclusive breastfeeding for all infants in he United States and 12 months worldwide. National statistics have shown increasing breastfeeding ates for the United States from 1975 through 1995, with ates remaining relatively high into 2004. Data from 004, the National Immunization Survey, reported naional breastfeeding rates of 70.3% (CI 0.9) for ever reastfeeding, 36.2% (CI 0.9) breastfeeding continuing t 6 months, 38.5% (CI 1.0) exclusive breastfeeding at months, and 14.1% (CI 0.7) exclusive breastfeeding t 6 months. These numbers are comparable to reported ates from the Mothers’ Survey, Ross Products Division f Abbott, for 2004: 64.7% of mothers breastfeeding in he hospital; 31.9% breastfeeding at 6 months; with 1.7% of mothers reporting exclusive breastfeeding in