According to a study published in JAMA Pediatrics, infants up to six months old who are prescribed antibiotics have a greater chance of developing allergies later on in life, including asthma and food allergies.
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To conduct the study, researchers studied the medical records of 798,426 children born between 2001 and 2013. They looked at six classes of antibiotic prescriptions given within the first six months of life, and noted whether the child developed an allergic disease later on in life. Of the nearly 800,00 children studied, 83.3% were not prescribed antibiotics. Of the 16.7% who were prescribed antibiotics, prescriptions filled included penicillin, macrolide, cephalosporin, penicillin beta-lactamase inhibitor and sulfonamides.
The researchers found that all of the commonly prescribed antibiotics were associated with subsequent allergic disease diagnosis later on in life, including asthma, food allergies, anaphylaxis, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, contact dermatitis and allergic conjunctivitis. The highest correlation was seen with penicillin, and the lowest correlation was seen with sulfonamides.
Researchers say the connection likely comes from the way antibiotics negatively affect the immune system and the gut microbiome, thus increasing a child’s risk of developing allergies.
This isn’t the first study to link changes in infant gut microbiome to disease. Research has linked infant formula to a change in gut bacteria with a proliferation of those more commonly found in older children and adults, increasing the infant’s risk of obesity.
Variety and health of your gut bacteria are associated with genetic expression and interaction with your immune system; research shows that when unsupported, it may lead to an increased risk of chronic diseases.