Breastfeeding Lowers Risk of Ear Infections

Otitis media, inflammation of the middle ear, is one of the major illnesses of childhood. Some may experience repeated attacks which makes it frustrating to cope with and difficult to treat.  A study has found, however, that breast-feeding provides a protective benefit against otitis media  that significantly reduces the risk of ear infections.

Medical researchers from the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center in Tucson, received the records of  infants from birth through to their first birthday. They found that infants who were exclusively breast-fed (meaning they did not receive formula or solid foods) for the first four months of life were half as likely to develop otitis media as  were the babies who were formula fed. Furthermore, the breast-fed babies who did develop ear infections suffered fewere repeat episodes. Babies who received breast milk and other supplemental foods developed somewhat more ear infections as a group, but not quite as many as the babies who were strictly formula fed. The researchers also found that the breast-milk protection lasted for as long as the babies were breast-fed, and even after they were weaned.