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Ear infection and infant feeding practices
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Infant feeding positions impact middle ear infection risk. Keeping infants’ heads raised during feeding, especially bottle-feeding, may reduce infection rates in infants with otitis media.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Otolaryngology
- Public Health
Background:
- Middle ear infection (otitis media) is a common childhood illness, particularly in infants from low socio-economic backgrounds.
- Feeding practices are suspected to play a role in the development of otitis media.
- Understanding these practices can inform preventative strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between infant feeding practices and middle ear infections.
- To determine if specific feeding positions correlate with the incidence or recurrence of otitis media.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 128 infants aged 18 months and below with middle ear infection from a low socio-economic group.
- Data collected on feeding practices, including breast-feeding, top feeds, and feeding positions (head flat vs. head raised).
Main Results:
- 91.4% of infants acquired middle ear infection by one year of age.
- Breast-fed infants (88.6%) were more likely to be fed with their heads flat compared to those on top feeds (61.6% head raised).
- A significant difference (P < 0.001) was observed in feeding positions between breast-fed and top-fed infants.
Conclusions:
- Infant feeding position is significantly associated with middle ear infection.
- Mothers should avoid feeding infants in a flat-head position, particularly during bottle-feeding.
- Raising the infant's head during feeding may be a protective measure against otitis media.
Abstract:
Feeding practices were studied in 128 infants aged 18 months and below with middle ear infection, belonging to the low socio-economic group. By the age of one year, 117 (91.4%) had acquired the infection. At the onset of the first episode, 105 (82.0%) were breast-fed, 42 not receiving any other milk. There were no differences in the feeding practices between infants who had single and those who had multiple episodes. Ninety-six infants were being given water by spoon or bottle and 42, semisolids by spoon. Among the 105 breast-fed infants, in 93 (88.6%), the infants' heads were often flat during feeding. In contrast, in the 86 infants on 'top' feeds 53 (61.6%) of the mothers said that they kept the infants' head raised during feeding. The difference was significant (x2 = 53.18, P less than 0.001). Mothers should avoid feeding infants with the latter's head flat, although the former may adopt any comfortable position.