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Published on: September 27, 2017
[Atopic dermatitis and prolonged exclusive breast-feeding]
1King Faisal University, Al Ahsa, Qatar Street, Al-Hafouf, Saudi Arabia. montassaramri@yahoo.fr
Insights
Exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months was less common in children with atopic dermatitis (AD). Longer exclusive breastfeeding correlated with less severe AD, though a protective effect remains unproven.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric dermatology
- Allergy and immunology
- Nutritional science
Context:
- Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic inflammatory skin condition in children.
- Breastfeeding is recognized for its numerous health benefits, but its specific role in AD prevention and severity is debated.
- Understanding the relationship between infant feeding practices and AD is crucial for public health recommendations.
Purpose:
- To investigate the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months in children with AD compared to controls.
- To examine the correlation between the duration of exclusive breastfeeding and the severity of atopic dermatitis.
- To assess the potential protective role of exclusive breastfeeding against AD development and severity.
Summary:
- A case-control study involving 114 children with AD and matched controls found a significantly lower prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months in the AD group (P=0.0413).
- Further analysis revealed that AD severity was significantly reduced in children exclusively breastfed for over nine months (P=0.0079).
- Despite these correlations, the study could not establish a definitive protective effect of exclusive breastfeeding against atopic dermatitis.
Impact:
- Findings suggest a potential association between reduced exclusive breastfeeding and increased risk or severity of atopic dermatitis.
- Highlights the importance of promoting extended exclusive breastfeeding due to its broader health benefits, even if a direct protective effect against AD is not definitively proven.
- Informs public health strategies and clinical guidance regarding infant feeding practices in populations with a cultural predisposition towards breastfeeding.
Background:
We sought to compare the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding throughout at least the first 6 months of life in patients presenting atopic dermatitis (AD) with a control group, and to check for a correlation between the duration of exclusive breastfeeding and the severity of AD.
Patients And Methods:
We conducted a case-control study with prospective inclusion over a period of 3 years. The study group consisted of 114 patients aged less than 15 years, from an urban area, presenting AD but with no personal or family history of atopy. Each patient was compared with two controls from the same town, matched for age and gender, with no personal or family history of atopy, and free of AD. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS software package, version 15.0. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.
Results:
The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding for at least the first 6 months of life in the patient group was significantly lower than in the control group (P=0.0413). On the other hand, AD was significantly less severe in patients exclusively breastfed for longer than 9 months (P=0.0079).
Conclusion:
The correlations recorded in our study do not allow us to draw any definite conclusions about a protective effect of exclusive breastfeeding with regard to AD. However, other benefits of extended exclusive breastfeeding justify supporting breastfeeding in a community with an existing sociocultural predisposition for this feeding method.
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