Breast-feeding and acute otitis media.
BACKGROUND
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.


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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital, Leiden, The Netherlands.
M L
ML
Sassen
R
R
Brand
J J
JJ
Grote
D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests; D000208:Acute Disease; D000367:Age Factors; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D013997:Time Factors