Harnessing the Pediatric Gut–Lung Axis: Microbiome-Guided Strategies Against Childhood Respiratory Disease
Keywords:
gut–lung axis, pediatric respiratory infections, microbiome, hort-chain fatty acids, probiotics, synbiotics, live biotherapeutics, precision medicineAbstract
The microbiota–gut–lung axis is emerging as a crucial regulator of pediatric respiratory health, reshaping concepts of susceptibility, disease course, and therapy in childhood respiratory infections. Evidence links gut dysbiosis with increased risk and severity of pediatric respiratory tract infections, mediated through altered mucosal immunity and microbial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids. This article overviews mechanistic insights into gut–lung crosstalk in children and critically appraises microbiome-targeted strategies, including diet modulation, probiotics, synbiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, and live biotherapeutics. Special emphasis is placed on precision approaches that integrate multi-omics profiling to stratify patients and design tailored interventions. Remaining challenges include heterogeneous clinical data, regulatory uncertainty, and limited studies in low- and middle-income settings. Thoughtful translation of these concepts could transform prevention and treatment of pediatric respiratory diseases by moving from pathogen-centered to ecosystem-centered care.
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