Frequent Antibiotic Exposure In Pediatric Patients Under Two Was Linked To Increased Risk Of Asthma, Food Allergies By Age 12, Study Finds

American Journal of Managed Care (4/17, Bonavitacola) reports a study found that “multiple antibiotic courses in children were associated with an increased risk of asthma, food allergies, intellectual disabilities, and allergic rhinitis.” Researchers observed that “the risk of asthma and allergic outcomes by 6 and 12 years of age was higher in children who were exposed to antibiotics” between their birth and age 2 years. The risk differences “were higher in asthma (3.5%-4.4%) and atopic dermatitis (3.7%-5.1%). Asthma and food allergy had lower AHRs for asthma and higher for food allergies.” Meanwhile, “autoimmune disorders had a less than 0.1% difference in RDs by 12 years of age,” and there was a “weak correlation between antibiotic exposure and ADHD in the full cohort.” The study was published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases