Prolonged breast-feeding is widely believed to protect infants against developing eczema and other allergic diseases. But a new study has found no evidence for the belief.
Researchers in Britain gathered data on more than 50,000 children ages 8 to 12 in 21 countries, assessing the prevalence and severity of eczema with skin examinations of the children, family medical histories and questionnaires about past symptoms. The children also received skin-prick tests for common allergens.