Does formula-feeding in infancy increase the risk of allergic rhinitis?

Background: It has been investigated whether feeding with formula in infancy increases the risk of allergic rhinitis in childhood. Methods: The study included a total of 876 patients 40.5% (n = 355) males, 59.5% (n =521) females with mean age 10,1±5,7 years, who applied to a secondary hospital Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) Clinic between June 01, 2018 and September 01, 2018. Patients were evaluated with ‘The Score for Allergic Rhinitis’ (SFAR) questionnaire. Consistency of physical examination with allergic rhinitis and the SFAR ≥7 were assessed in favor of allergic rhinitis. Besides this, patients were asked about their medical history if they had breast feeding and formula feeding in the first two years of life. Those who had a nursing history with formula in the first two years of life were grouped as Formula (+), and those without such a history were grouped as Formula (-). Results: Number of patient with allergic rhinitis were 150 (17.1%) in 876 patient who has been included in the study. Allergic rhinitis was significantly higher in female gender (p=0.004). The use rate of any formula-fed during infancy was 37.6% (n=329). While 56% (n=84) of allergic rhinitic patients had formula-fed history, 33,7% (n=245) of non-allergic rhinitic patients had formula-fed history. Allergic rhinitis was detected significantly higher in the ones who had formula-fed during their infancy period (p<0.001). Conclusion: Formula-feeding during infancy was seen as an increasing risk factor of allergic rhinitis