Exclusive breastfeeding reduces asthma in a group of children from the Caguas municipality of Puerto Rico.
Breast-feeding is the preferred method of infant nutrition. Its role in preventing childhood asthma is controversial.


OBJECTIVE
Determine whether breastfeeding protects against the development of bronchial asthma in children.


METHODS
A survey was answered by parents of children less than 18 years of age attending a Pediatric clinic at Cidra, Puerto Rico from July to December 2008.


RESULTS
A group of 175 mothers were included in the study. The mean age was 28 years (range 14-50). The mean age of the children was 5 years. There was family history of asthma in 64% of the families. The prevalence of asthma in these children was 50%. Sixty-six percent of the mother's breastfed but only 27% did it exclusively. Children who were exclusively breastfed had a lower prevalence of asthma and milk protein allergy.


CONCLUSIONS
This study correlates with literature reports linking exclusive breastfeeding to a reduction in asthma and other allergic diseases.
González
Jessica
J
Department of General Pediatrics, UPR School of Medicine, San Juan, PR 00936-5067.
Fernández
Mariola
M
García Fragoso
Lourdes
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011647:Puerto Rico; D055815:Young Adult