Breast-Feeding and Risk for Eczema

The optimum duration of exclusive breast-feeding and the timing of solid food introduction are difficult to know for certain, especially given conflicting data and recommendations (JW Pediatr Adolesc Med Mar 2 2011). The potential influence of these decisions on eczema risk is important to consider, and, in 2008, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended exclusive breast-feeding for ≥4 months to protect high-risk infants against eczema during the first 2 years of life (JW Pediatr Adolesc Med Feb 20 2008). Now, researchers have conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional study involving >51,000 children (age range, 8–12 years) in 21 affluent and nonaffluent countries to assess eczema histories and breast-feeding patterns as reported in p…