Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate whether or not breastfeeding protects from allergic rhinitis.

METHODS: The study included 658 patients (241 males, 417 females; mean age 28.3 years; range, 14 to 59 years) who applied to a secondary hospital Ear Nose and Throat Clinic between 01 June 2017 and 01 November 2017. Anterior rhinoscopic and nasal endoscopic examinations were performed to all patients. Patients who had nasal pathologies such as acute/chronic sinusitis, nasal polyp, antrocoanal polyp or inverted papilloma were excluded from study. Patients were evaluated with ‘The Score for Allergic Rhinitis’ (SFAR). Nasal examination that agreed with allergic rhinitis and a score ≥7 obtained in SFAR questionnaire were assessed in favor of allergic rhinitis. Patients were divided into five categories according to breastfeeding duration: (i) never breastfed, (ii) breastfed between zero-three months, (iii) breastfed between three-six months, (iv) breastfed between 6-12 months, and (v) breastfed for and more than 12 months.

RESULTS: Of the 658 patients included in our study, allergic rhinitis was detected in 162 (24.6%). Allergic rhinitis rate was 38.8% (n=42) in the never breastfed, 50% (n=46) in the breastfed between zero-three months, 31.25% (n=30) in the breastfed between three-six months, 25.49% (n=26) in the breastfed between 6-12 months, and 6.92% (n=18) in the breastfed for and more than 12 months. Allergic rhinitis incidence was statistically significantly lower in the breastfed for and more than 12 months compared to the breastfed lesser than 12 months (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION: In our study, breastfeeding was seen to protect from allergic rhinitis.