Breast feeding and lower respiratory tract illness in the first year of life. Group Health Medical Associates.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the relation between breast feeding and subsequent experience of lower respiratory tract illness.


METHODS
Prospective (from well child visits) and retrospective (from maternal recall) study of breast feeding and prospective assessment by paediatricians of lower respiratory tract illness in infants during first year of life.


METHODS
Health maintenance organisation.


METHODS
Over 1000 infants who were healthy at birth and whose parents used the paediatricians of a local health maintenance organisation.


METHODS
Duration of breast feeding and type of lower respiratory tract illness (wheezing and non-wheezing) at different age intervals during the first year of life.


RESULTS
Breast feeding was associated with a decreased incidence of wheezing illnesses only in the first four months of life. Interactions existed between breast feeding and sharing a room, being Mexican American, and being a boy. Multivariate techniques showed that after controlling for a variety of factors children who received minimal breast milk had a greater risk of early wheezing illnesses; the risk was further increased by simultaneous exposure to sharing a room.


CONCLUSIONS
Breast feeding seems to protect against wheezing respiratory tract illnesses in the first four months of life, particularly when other risk factors are present.
Wright
A L
AL
Department of Pediatrics, Children's Research Center, Tucson, Arizona 85724.
Holberg
C J
CJ
Martinez
F D
FD
Morgan
W J
WJ
Taussig
L M
LM
D001942:Breast Feeding; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology; D006685:Hoarseness / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors