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Impact of Breastfeeding Duration on Adenoid Hypertrophy, Snoring and Acute Otitis Media: A Case-Control Study in
Aleksander Zwierz1, Krzysztof Domagalski2, Krystyna Masna1
1Department of Otolaryngology, Phoniatrics and Audiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 75 Ujejskiego Street, 85-168 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Insights
Extended breastfeeding, 3-6 months or more, significantly reduces snoring in children. Breastfeeding duration also plays a key role in reducing acute otitis media (AOM) rates, with mother's milk offering protection.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Otolaryngology
- Child Health and Nutrition
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Investigating the impact of breastfeeding duration on childhood adenoid size, snoring, and acute otitis media (AOM).
- Understanding the relationship between early life feeding practices and respiratory/ear health outcomes in young children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the correlation between breastfeeding duration and adenoid size, snoring, and AOM in children aged 3-5 years.
- To identify key factors influencing snoring and AOM in preschool-aged children.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of medical histories and nasopharyngoscopy findings for 145 children (3-5 years old) from 2022-2023.
- Evaluation of reported symptoms, ENT examinations, and flexible nasopharyngoscopy to assess adenoid size, mucus coverage, and sleeping patterns.
Main Results:
- Breastfeeding for 3-6 months or longer significantly reduced snoring (p=0.021; p=0.039) and was linked to lower AOM rates (p=0.018; p=0.004).
- No significant effect of breastfeeding duration on adenoid size was observed; however, snoring correlated with open-mouth sleeping and adenoid size (p<0.001).
- Children breastfed less than 3 months had a four-fold increased risk of snoring; independent snoring factors included short breastfeeding duration, large adenoid size, and open-mouth sleeping.
Conclusions:
- Prolonged breastfeeding (3-6 months+) is associated with reduced snoring and AOM rates in children.
- Breastfeeding duration impacts snoring likely through craniofacial development and muscle tone, not directly adenoid size.
- Mother's milk provides a protective effect against AOM, and breastfeeding history is crucial for evaluating snoring in children with suspected adenoid hypertrophy.
Background:
The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between breastfeeding duration and adenoid size, snoring and acute otitis media (AOM).
Methods:
We analyzed the medical history of children admitted to the ENT outpatient clinic in 2022 and 2023, reported symptoms, ear, nose and throat (ENT) examination, and flexible nasopharyngoscopy examination of 145 children aged 3-5 years.
Results:
Breastfeeding duration of 3 and 6 months or more had a significant effect on the reduction of snoring (p = 0.021; p = 0.039). However, it had no effect on the adenoid size, mucus coverage and sleeping with an open mouth. Snoring was correlated with open mouth sleeping (p < 0.001), adenoid size with a 75% A/C ratio or more (p < 0.001), and adenoid mucus coverage in the Mucus of Adenoid Scale by Nasopharyngoscopy Assessment-MASNA scale (p = 0.009). Children who were breastfed for less than 3 months had more than a four-fold greater risk of snoring. There was a statistically significant correlation between AOM and gender (p = 0.033), breastfeeding duration in groups fed 1, 3 or 6 months or more (p = 0.018; p = 0.004; p = 0.004) and those fed with mother's breast milk 3 or 6 months or more (p = 0.009; p = 0.010). Moreover, a correlation was found between adenoid size and mucus coverage, tympanogram, and open-mouth sleeping (p < 0.001). Independent factors of snoring in 3- to 5-year-old children were breastfeeding duration of less than 3 months (p = 0.032), adenoid size with an A/C ratio of 75% or more (p = 0.023) and open mouth sleeping (p = 0.001).
Conclusions:
Children breastfed for 3 and 6 months or more exhibited reduced rates of snoring. There was no effect of breastfeeding duration on adenoid size in children aged 3 to 5 years, suggesting that the link between breastfeeding duration and snoring is primarily associated with craniofacial development and muscle tone stimulation. A breastfeeding duration of 1 month or more plays a key role in reducing the rate of AOM. The mother's milk plays a protective role against AOM. The presence of mucus might be responsible for snoring in preschool children. A medical history of breastfeeding should be taken into consideration when snoring children are suspected of adenoid hypertrophy.
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