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Protective Effect of Breastfeeding Against Febrile Seizure: A Nationwide Study in Korea

Jae Yoon Na1, Jong Ho Cha1, Jin-Hwa Moon2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea.

Pediatric Neurology
|November 17, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Breastfeeding protects young children from febrile seizures (FS) up to age 2.5 years. While the protective effect diminishes later, prolonged breastfeeding is still recommended for overall childhood health.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Febrile seizures (FS) are common in childhood.
  • The protective effect of breastfeeding against FS is established but its duration is debated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the age-stratified protective effect of breastfeeding against febrile seizures.

Main Methods:

  • A large cohort study of 1,791,335 children was conducted using data from the National Health Screening Program for Infants and Children (NHSPIC) and the Korean National Health Insurance Service.
  • Feeding type (exclusive breastfeeding, partial breastfeeding, exclusive formula feeding) was recorded at 4-6 months of age.
  • Febrile seizure occurrence was tracked over a five-year follow-up period.

Main Results:

  • Exclusive breastfeeding (EB) and partial breastfeeding (PB) were associated with a reduced risk of febrile seizures compared to exclusive formula feeding (EF).
  • The protective effect was significant up to 2.5 years of age for both EB (OR 0.85) and PB (OR 0.92).
  • After 2.5 years, the protective effect was not significant for PB and inconsistent for EB.

Conclusions:

  • Breastfeeding demonstrates a significant protective effect against febrile seizures in children up to 2.5 years of age.
  • While the protective effect wanes after 2.5 years, prolonged breastfeeding is still encouraged for broader childhood health benefits.
Abstract

Keywords:
Birth cohortBreastfeedingFebrile seizureNationwide study

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