Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Aug 13, 2025 3 hours, 19 minutes ago
Medical News: Gut Health and Immunity in Young Children
A team of researchers from Inha University College of Medicine and Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital in South Korea has uncovered worrying changes in the gut bacteria of infants and toddlers infected with COVID-19. The gut microbiome plays a vital role in developing a healthy immune system, especially in the first years of life. Infections during this crucial stage could leave lasting effects. This
Medical News report highlights findings from a study involving children under two years old with mild to moderate COVID-19, compared with healthy counterparts.
COVID-19 Causes Harmful Gut Changes in Young Children, Weakening Immunity
How the Study Was Done
The study examined stool samples from 18 children with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and 7 healthy children between December 2021 and June 2022. Researchers used advanced genetic sequencing to identify the bacterial makeup of each child’s gut. None of the children had taken antibiotics or probiotics before sampling, ensuring the results reflected COVID-19’s direct impact.
Major Gut Microbiome Shifts
Children with COVID-19 showed reduced diversity in gut bacteria—a sign of imbalance, known as dysbiosis. Beneficial bacteria like Faecalibacterium, Clostridium, and Ruminococcus were less abundant, while potentially harmful species such as Bifidobacterium, Escherichia, and Streptococcus were more common. These changes suggest a shift toward bacteria that may promote inflammation rather than protect against it.
Suppressed Immune Pathways
The analysis went further, predicting how these microbiome changes might affect the immune system. Key immune defense systems, including the interleukin-17 (IL-17) pathway, NOD-like receptor signaling, and Toll-like receptor signaling, were found to be less active. These pathways are crucial for fighting viruses and maintaining gut health. A weakened response in these systems could make it harder for young children to clear infections and might affect how their immune systems develop over time.
Why It Matters for Long-Term Health
The first two years of life are a critical period when the gut microbiome helps train the immune system. Disruptions at this stage could raise the risk of allergies, autoimmune conditions, and chronic inflammation later in life. Although the children in the study had no digestive symptoms, the internal changes in their gut bacteria and immune functions could still carry long-term consequences.
What’s Next
The researchers stress the need for larger, long-term studies to see if these changes persist and how they might influence future health. They also suggest exploring therapies aimed at restoring healthy gut bacteria in young children after COVID-19 infection.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Microorganisms
ps://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/8/1879">https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/8/1879
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/mysterious-wave-of-sudden-mental-disorders-in-children-linked-to-covid-19-infections-alarms-doctors
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