AMAMENTAO EXCLUSIVA DIMINUI INFECES RESPIRATRIAS

Por: Reuters, NOVA YORK / Pediatrics Leite materno protege criana contra doenas respiratrias

O aleitamento materno exclusivo durante os 6 primeiros meses de vida reduz no beb o risco de infeces do trato respiratrio, em comparao amamentao feita em um perodo menor, segundo um novo estudo publicado na revista mdica "Pediatrics". Os autores do estudo destacaram que a recomendao mdica para que as mes amamentem seus filhos por seis meses baseada na proteo contra infeces gastrointestinais. Mas o novo estudo comprova este outro benefcio - sobre o qual j se suspeitava, porm no havia comprovao cientfica. A pesquisa foi conduzida pela mdica Caroline J. Chantry, da Universidade da Califrnia, que analisou dados da pesquisa National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III, realizada entre 1988 e 1994. A anlise incluiu informaes de 2277 crianas com idades entre seis meses e um ano. Leia abaixo o resumo do artigo original publicado no PEDIATRICS Vol. 117 No. 2 February 2006, pp. 425-432 (doi:10.1542/peds.2004-2283)

Full Breastfeeding Duration and Associated Decrease in Respiratory Tract Infection in US Children OBJECTIVE. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for an infants first 6 months of life. When compared with exclusive breastfeeding for 4 months, greater protection against gastrointestinal infection, but not respiratory tract infection, has been demonstrated for the 6-month duration. The objective of this study was to ascertain if full breastfeeding of 6 months compared with 4 to <6 months in the United States provides greater protection against respiratory tract infection. METHODS. Secondary analysis of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III, a nationally representative cross-sectional home survey conducted from 1988 to 1994, was performed. Data from 2277 children aged 6 to <24 months, who were divided into 5 groups according to breastfeeding status, were compared. Children who required neonatal intensive care were excluded. SUDAAN software was used to account for the complex sampling design. Logistic regression adjusted for confounding factors. Outcome measures included adjusted odds of acquiring pneumonia, 3 episodes of

cold/influenza, 3 episodes of otitis media (OM), or wheezing in the past year or acquiring first OM at <12 months of age. RESULTS. In unadjusted analyses, infants who were fully breastfed for 4 to <6 months (n = 223) were at greater risk for pneumonia than those who were fully breastfed for 6 months (n = 136) (6.5% vs 1.6%). There were not statistically significant differences in 3 episodes of cold/influenza (45% vs 41%), wheezing (23% vs 24%), 3 episodes of OM (27% vs 20%), or first OM at <12 months of age (49% vs 47%). Adjusting for demographic variables, childcare, and smoke exposure revealed statistically significant increased risk for both pneumonia (odds ratio [OR]: 4.27; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2714.35) and 3 episodes of OM (OR: 1.95; 95% CI: 1.063.59) in those who were fully breastfed for 4 to <6 months compared with 6 months. CONCLUSIONS. This nationally representative study documents increased risk of respiratory tract infection including pneumonia and recurrent OM in children who were fully breastfed for 4 vs 6 months. These findings support current recommendations that infants receive only breast milk for the first 6 months of life. Caroline J. Chantry, MDa, Cynthia R. Howard, MD, MPHb and Peggy Auinger, MSb,c a Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California b Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York c American Academy of Pediatrics Center for Child Health Research, Rochester, New York Key Words: breastfeeding benefits respiratory infections infant feeding nutritioninfant Abbreviations: WHOWorld Health Organization URIupper respiratory infection OMotitis media NHANESNational Health and Nutrition Examination Survey ROMrecurrent otitis media OM<12otitis media at <12 months of age FullBF<1fully breastfed for <1 month FullBF1-3fully breastfed for 1 to <4 months FullBF4-5fully breastfed for 4 to <6 months FullBF6fully breastfed for 6 months ORodds ratio CIconfidence interval no BFnot breastfed Accepted Jun 3, 2005.