Immunology and infectious diseases

Course Objectives:

Participants will be able to list at least 3 ways that breastfeeding minimizes infections in infants
Participants will be able to describe how breastmilk provides antibody and non-antibody protection to the infant
Participants will be able to list the major components of breastmilk and the role they each play in providing protection to the infant
Participants will be able to list the major hormones and growth factors present in breastmilk and the role each plays in infant growth and development
Participants will be able to list at least 5 predictors of childhood allergy, and describe ways to manage atopic disease present in infants
Participants will be able to list at least 5 medical conditions that are less prevalent among breastfed infants than AIM fed infants
Participants will be able to describe breastfeeding management techniques that reduce the infant’s exposure to infectious diseases
Participants will be able to describe breastfeeding management techniques when the mother has a serious medical condition

Course Outline: 4 hours breaks not included
1. How breastmilk protects the infant (60 min)

Breast Milk Antibodies (immunoglobulin), take five basic forms - IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD and IgE
Helpful Molecules – mucins, lactoferrin, B12 binding protein, Bifidus factor, Interferon, fibronectin, lysozymes
Mucosal Defense system
Cellular Defenses - immune cells are abundant in human milk.(most abundant in colostrums)

Breast-fed babies produce higher levels of antibodies in response to immunizations
Certain hormones and small proteins help to close up the leaky mucosal lining of the newborn
breastfeeding induces local immunity in the baby
breastfeeding protects babies against infection until they can protect themselves

2. Allergy & atopic disease (60 min)

Risk factors of childhood allergies – hereditary, maternal cigarette smoking, artificial baby milk feeding, environmental factors
Food allergy and atopic disease – eg. asthma, eczema, urticaria, rhinitis, failure-to-thrive, colic
Eliminatory diets for mother
Breastfeeding Vs formula feeding
Bovine milk is the most common single allergen affecting infants. The proteins, NOT lactose in bovine milk are the allergen.
Identify “at-risk” families, stop smoking, possible prenatal avoidance diet, post-partum avoidance diet, exclusive breastfeeding for 6+ months, delay introduction of potential allergens for 2 to 3 years, control environmental allergens

3. Infectious diseases and breastfeeding (60 min)

4. Medical conditions (55 min)

5. Question period. (5 min)

Total 4 hours