title: Global analysis of breast feeding and risk of symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema in 6-7 year old children: ISAAC Phase Three.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Phase Three of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC), we investigated the relationship between breast feeding in infancy and symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema in 6-7 year old children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parents or guardians of 6-7 year old children completed written questionnaires on current symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema, and on a range of possible asthma risk factors including a history of breast feeding ever. Prevalence odds ratios were estimated using logistic regression, adjusted for gender, region of the world, language, per capita gross national income, and other risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all 206,453 children from 72 centres in 31 countries participated in the study. Reported breast feeding ever was not associated with current wheeze, with an odds ratio (adjusted for gender, region of the world, language, per capita gross national income, and factors encountered in infancy) of 0.99 (95% CI 0.92-1.05), current rhinoconjunctivitis (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.93-1.08), current eczema (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.97-1.12), or symptoms of severe asthma (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.87-1.05). Breast feeding was however associated with a reduced risk of severe rhinoconjunctivitis (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.59-0.94) and severe eczema (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.66-0.95).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no consistent association between breast feeding use in the first year of life and either a history or current symptoms of wheezing, rhinoconjunctivitis or eczema in 6-7 year old children, but possibly an effect on severe symptoms of the latter two conditions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. bengt.bjorksten@ki.ses
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Björkstén
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aït-Khaled
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Innes Asher
authors.forename: T O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Clayton
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Robertson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma; D002648:Child; D003231:Conjunctivitis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004485:Eczema; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012220:Rhinitis; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires