Study: Antibiotics Increase Risk of Allergies and Asthma in Children
A recent study has revealed that excessive antibiotic use heightens the risk of children developing allergies and asthma as they grow older.
A research team from New York, Stanford, and Rutgers universities in the United States indicated that the reason for this could be linked to changes in the gut microbiome resulting from high antibiotic intake.
In this study, published in the scientific journal Journal of Infectious Diseases, researchers examined data from over one million children, investigating the impact of antibiotic use on more than ten different health issues.
According to the research team, antibiotic consumption in early childhood increases the risk of developing asthma by 24% and food allergies by 33% later in life.
The study found no effect of antibiotics on the likelihood of developing celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or autism.
The medical research website "Health Day" quoted members of the study team saying that "antibiotics play a crucial role in treating various bacterial infections, but doctors need to exercise caution when prescribing these medications to children under two years old, as they may lead to long-term health complications."
