title: Association between breastfeeding and the development of breathing patterns in children.
abstract: The aims of the present study were to evaluate the association between breastfeeding and breathing development and to investigate associations between breastfeeding duration and the breathing patterns in children. A cross-sectional study was carried out at the Institute of Integrative Medicine Professor Fernando Figueira, Recife, Brazil, with a random sample of 732 children aged between 6 and 9 years. Breastfeeding and breathing patterns were identified using a questionnaire that was filled out by mothers or guardians, and a clinical examination of the children. Data were analyzed statistically by Pearson's chi-square test at 5 % significance level. The prevalence of mouth breathing was 48 %, whereas 52 % of the children were nasal breathers. Six hundred-forty children were breastfed; 46.2 % of them were mouth breathers and 53.8 % were nasal breathers. Ninety-two children were not breastfed; 59.8 % of them were mouth breathers and 40.2 % were nasal breathers. Breastfeeding for 24 months or more, as well as exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months, was associated with the development of nasal breathing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Extended breastfeeding was associated with correct development of the breathing pattern.
authors.affiliation: Integrated Clinical Dentistry, Department of Prosthetics and Oral and Facial Surgery, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriana Bezerra
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Limeira
authors.forename: Carlos Menezes
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Aguiar
authors.forename: Niedje Siqueira
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: de Lima Bezerra
authors.forename: Andréa Cruz
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Câmara
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009058:Mouth Breathing / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012119:Respiration; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires