title: [Atopic dermatitis and prolonged exclusive breast-feeding].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We sought to compare the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding throughout at least the first 6 months of life in patients presenting atopic dermatitis (AD) with a control group, and to check for a correlation between the duration of exclusive breastfeeding and the severity of AD.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a case-control study with prospective inclusion over a period of 3 years. The study group consisted of 114 patients aged less than 15 years, from an urban area, presenting AD but with no personal or family history of atopy. Each patient was compared with two controls from the same town, matched for age and gender, with no personal or family history of atopy, and free of AD. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS software package, version 15.0. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding for at least the first 6 months of life in the patient group was significantly lower than in the control group (P=0.0413). On the other hand, AD was significantly less severe in patients exclusively breastfed for longer than 9 months (P=0.0079).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The correlations recorded in our study do not allow us to draw any definite conclusions about a protective effect of exclusive breastfeeding with regard to AD. However, other benefits of extended exclusive breastfeeding justify supporting breastfeeding in a community with an existing sociocultural predisposition for this feeding method.
authors.affiliation: King Faisal University, Al Ahsa, Qatar Street, Al-Hafouf, Saudi Arabia. montassaramri@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amri
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Elhani
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Doussari
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amir
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001942:Breast Feeding; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors