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Breast-feeding and acute otitis media
M L Sassen1, R Brand, J J Grote
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Introduction:
The risk of acute otitis media (AOM) is estimated as a function of a number of covariates, with special emphasis on changes to this risk after breast-feeding is discontinued.
Materials And Methods:
Two hundred eighty-nine children born between July 1987, and October 1988, were studied up to the age of 24 months. The enrollment of the children took place during their regular check-up visits at three different child health care centers.
Results:
The risk of AOM was significantly decreased until 4 months after breast-feeding was discontinued; then, without the protective effect of breast-feeding, and with increasing months, the children approached the risk level estimated in the group of children who were never breast-fed. Approximately 12 months after breast-feeding was discontinued, the risk was virtually the same as if the child had never been breast-fed. The risk of AOM was also significantly dependent on the infant's number of siblings and socioeconomic status.
Conclusion:
The risk of AOM depends on the number of months an infant is breast-fed and the number of months that pass after breast-feeding is discontinued.