Breast-feeding and acute otitis media

Abstract Introduction: 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. Materials and 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. Conclusion: 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.