New Study Links Allergies to Antibiotics

Infants given antibiotics are at risk for allergies!

A new study suggests, "Treating your child with antibiotics seems to increase their risk for developing childhood diseases like eczema and allergic asthma." A senior researcher, Dr. Christina Cole, for Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, studies the effects of antibiotics on infants. She reviewed medical records for 445 children. The children were followed for their development of allergic conditions until age 6-7.

Almost 50% of the children were treated with antibiotics in their first 6 months of life. The children who were treated with antibiotics were 1.5 times more likely to develop allergies and were 2.5 times more likely to suffer from allergic asthma by the age of 7 than the children who weren't treated with antibiotics. "The early use of antibiotics may damage the child's gastrointestinal tract and inhibit the developing immune system."

The antibiotic link to asthma was higher for kids who did not have a pet at home. They also noted that early exposure in life to bacterial infections and bacterial products seem to prevent the development of allergies. There is evidence that normal childhood diseases and bacterial infections help build a child's immune system. A healthy immune system will help protect them against allergies, asthma and more serious health challenges later in life.