The association between duration of breastfeeding and atopy in children with or without family history of atopic disease

  • Riana Novy
  • Budi Setiabudiawan
  • Cissy B. Kartasasmita
Keywords: Atopy, atopic disease, total serum IgE, breastfeeding

Abstract

Background Atopic diseases (AD) are the most common chronic
diseases in childhood, and their incidence has a tendency to increase
recently. Tendency to have atopy could be triggered by many factors
originated in early life, including time of breastfeeding cessation.
Objective To determine the association between exclusive and
duration of breastfeeding and atopy in children with or without
family history of atopic disease.
Methods This was an observational clinical epidemiology study
performed at Babakansari, Padasuka, Garuda Primary Health Care
Center in Bandung from January to March 2006. One hundred
fifty of 749 children were randomized from group with and without
family history of AD. They underwent skin prick tests and total
serum IgE level analysis. Atopy was defined as a positive skin
prick test to any of the eight allergens tested. History of exclusive
and duration of breastfeeding was obtained from their parents.
Significance tests for contingency tables were on the basis of x 2
test for association odds ratio with 95% confidence interval.
Results Atopy was found in 28.2% of children, of whom 32.4% with
and 23.9% without family history of AD. Children exclusively
breastfed exhibited a reduced risk of atopy (5.8% v 35.3%, OR=0.11,
95%CI= 0.03;0.34, P<0.001). The difference of atopy was strongly
significant between children who had exclusive breastfeeding and
those without exclusive breastfeeding whether or not the subjects
had family history of AD (P<0.001). There was a highly significant
risk reduction for atopy related to prolonged breastfeeding (=6
months) (OR=0.37, 95%CI = 0.19 to 0.72, P=0.001). The
difference of atopy was strongly significant between children who
had prolonged breastfeeding and short breastfeeding duration whether
or not the subjects had family history of AD (P<0.001)
Conclusions Exclusive and prolonged breastfeeding decrease atopy
in children with as well as without family history of AD.

Author Biographies

Riana Novy
Department of Child Health, Medical School, Padjadjaran
University, Hasan Sadikin General Hospital Bandung, Indonesia.
Budi Setiabudiawan
Department of Child Health, Medical School, Padjadjaran
University, Hasan Sadikin General Hospital Bandung, Indonesia.
Cissy B. Kartasasmita
Department of Child Health, Medical School, Padjadjaran
University, Hasan Sadikin General Hospital Bandung, Indonesia.

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Published
2007-08-31
How to Cite
1.
Novy R, Setiabudiawan B, Kartasasmita C. The association between duration of breastfeeding and atopy in children with or without family history of atopic disease. PI [Internet]. 31Aug.2007 [cited 21Dec.2024];47(4):179-4. Available from: https://paediatricaindonesiana.org/index.php/paediatrica-indonesiana/article/view/410
Section
Articles
Received 2016-08-31
Accepted 2016-08-31
Published 2007-08-31