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(Ming Pao News Network, June 12, 2007)
A Canadian study found that newborns who take antibiotics before the age of one have a significantly higher risk of developing asthma by the age of seven. The research, published in the American College of Chest Physicians' journal *CHEST*, indicates that infants who take antibiotics for non-respiratory infections before their first birthday are twice as likely to develop asthma later in life.
The lead author of the study, Professor Kozyrskyj from the University of Manitoba, explained that antibiotics are primarily prescribed to newborns to treat respiratory infections. However, respiratory infections themselves can be an early sign of future asthma, making it difficult for researchers to determine whether asthma is caused by antibiotic use.
Kozyrskyj noted that his team focused specifically on cases where antibiotics were prescribed for non-respiratory infections. The researchers analyzed prescription records from a database of 13,116 children from birth to age seven. They found that infants who took antibiotics before turning one had a much higher likelihood of developing asthma by age seven.
Within the study sample, six percent of children developed asthma by age seven. Among these cases, 65 percent had taken antibiotics before their first birthday. Of these, 40 percent were prescribed antibiotics for middle ear infections, 28 percent for upper respiratory infections, 19 percent for lower respiratory infections, and seven percent for non-respiratory infections.
When researchers examined why antibiotics were prescribed to infants under one year old, they discovered that those who took antibiotics for non-respiratory infections were twice as likely to develop asthma by age seven compared to those who did not take antibiotics.
The study also found that the more frequently newborns took antibiotics, the higher their risk of developing asthma later. Infants who took multiple courses of antibiotics before their first birthday had twice the risk of asthma, even if their mothers had no history of asthma.
Additionally, infants under one year old who took antibiotics multiple times and did not have a dog at home were twice as likely to develop asthma compared to those who did not take antibiotics.
Kozyrskyj explained that while dogs may bring bacteria into the home, this exposure is generally believed to be necessary for strengthening a baby's immune system. Some studies have suggested that having a dog at home can help prevent asthma in newborns.
He added that without a dog at home, a baby's immune system may not develop properly, and taking antibiotics could further impair immune function.
Source:
Study: Antibiotics in Infancy Linked to Asthma
A Canadian study found that newborns who take antibiotics before the age of one have a significantly higher risk of developing asthma by the age of seven. The research, published in the American College of Chest Physicians' journal *CHEST*, indicates that infants who take antibiotics for non-respiratory infections before their first birthday are twice as likely to develop asthma later in life.
The lead author of the study, Professor Kozyrskyj from the University of Manitoba, explained that antibiotics are primarily prescribed to newborns to treat respiratory infections. However, respiratory infections themselves can be an early sign of future asthma, making it difficult for researchers to determine whether asthma is caused by antibiotic use.
Kozyrskyj noted that his team focused specifically on cases where antibiotics were prescribed for non-respiratory infections. The researchers analyzed prescription records from a database of 13,116 children from birth to age seven. They found that infants who took antibiotics before turning one had a much higher likelihood of developing asthma by age seven.
Within the study sample, six percent of children developed asthma by age seven. Among these cases, 65 percent had taken antibiotics before their first birthday. Of these, 40 percent were prescribed antibiotics for middle ear infections, 28 percent for upper respiratory infections, 19 percent for lower respiratory infections, and seven percent for non-respiratory infections.
When researchers examined why antibiotics were prescribed to infants under one year old, they discovered that those who took antibiotics for non-respiratory infections were twice as likely to develop asthma by age seven compared to those who did not take antibiotics.
The study also found that the more frequently newborns took antibiotics, the higher their risk of developing asthma later. Infants who took multiple courses of antibiotics before their first birthday had twice the risk of asthma, even if their mothers had no history of asthma.
Additionally, infants under one year old who took antibiotics multiple times and did not have a dog at home were twice as likely to develop asthma compared to those who did not take antibiotics.
Kozyrskyj explained that while dogs may bring bacteria into the home, this exposure is generally believed to be necessary for strengthening a baby's immune system. Some studies have suggested that having a dog at home can help prevent asthma in newborns.
He added that without a dog at home, a baby's immune system may not develop properly, and taking antibiotics could further impair immune function.
Source: