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BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

The effect of breastfeeding on the risk of asthma in high-risk children: a case-control study in Shanghai, China

Authors: Xiaona Huo, Shuyuan Chu, Li Hua, Yixiao Bao, Li Du, Jian Xu, Jun Zhang

Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Increasing evidence shows that antibiotic use in pregnancy may increase the risk of childhood asthma but epidemiologic studies are still limited and findings are inconsistent. Meanwhile, exclusive and prolonged breastfeeding may prevent children from allergic diseases. We aimed to assess the association between prenatal antibiotic use and the risk of childhood asthma, and explore whether breastfeeding modifies the risk.

Methods

We conducted a case-control study in Shanghai, China, from June 2015 to January 2016. A total of 634 asthma cases and 864 controls aged 3–12 years were included. Multiple logistic regressions were used to estimate crude and adjusted odds ratios (aOR).

Results

The prevalence of antibiotic use in pregnancy in the cases and controls was 7.1 and 3.5%, respectively. A significant association between prenatal antibiotic use and childhood asthma was observed (aOR: 1.7, 95% CI: 1.0–2.9), particularly in boys (aOR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.1–4.4) and children with family history of allergic disorders (aOR: 3.1, 95% CI: 1.2–8.4). However, this association existed only in children who were not breastfed exclusively in the first six months of life (aOR 2.6, 95% CI 1.3–5.1) but not in children who were exclusively breastfed (aOR 0.9, 95% CI 0.4–2.1). Likewise, exclusive breastfeeding also decreased the association between antibiotic use in pregnancy and asthma in boys and in children with family histories of allergic diseases.

Conclusions

Antibiotic use in pregnancy was a risk factor for childhood asthma. However, this risk may be attenuated by exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life, especially among high-risk children.
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Metadata
Title
The effect of breastfeeding on the risk of asthma in high-risk children: a case-control study in Shanghai, China
Authors
Xiaona Huo
Shuyuan Chu
Li Hua
Yixiao Bao
Li Du
Jian Xu
Jun Zhang
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2393
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-018-1936-5

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