Infection in the first year of life can be deadly for an infant, and antibiotic treatment is often the first port of call. But such treatment may have a downside; new research from the University of South Carolina finds early antibiotic exposure could raise a child's risk of food allergies.
The more antibiotics prescribed, the greater the food allergy risk
Using South Carolina Medicaid administrative data, the researchers identified 1,504 children born between 2007-2009 who had at least one food allergy, and these were matched by birth month/year, sex, and race/ethnicity to 5,995 healthy children - the controls.
The team looked at the number of antibiotic prescriptions that were filled in the first year of life for all children; a total of 9,324 antibiotic prescriptions were dispensed, the most common being penicillin, cephalosporin, macrolide, and sulfonamide antibiotics.
Overall, the results of the analysis revealed that children who were prescribed antibiotics by 12 months of age were 1.21 times more likely to be diagnosed with a food allergy, compared with children who received no antibiotic prescriptions in the first year of life.
What is more, the risk of food allergy diagnosis increased with the number of antibiotic prescriptions a child received; a child who received three antibiotic prescriptions was 1.31 times more likely to have a food allergy, four prescriptions were linked to a 1.43 times greater risk, and five or more increased food allergy risk by 1.64 times.
Cephalosporin and sulfonamide antibiotics were found to have the strongest association with food allergy diagnosis, the researchers report.
The findings remained after accounting for numerous possible confounding factors, including breast-feeding, asthma, eczema, maternal age, and place of residence.
Caution should be applied when prescribing antibiotics to children
According to the researchers, children in the United States aged 3 months to 2 years are prescribed an average of 2.2 antibiotic prescriptions every year, and many of these prescriptions may be unwarranted; for example, the drugs may be used to treat viral infections, for which they are ineffective.
Healthcare providers should be cautious when prescribing antibiotics to young children, as they may spur food allergy development and other conditions.
The more antibiotics prescribed, the greater the food allergy risk
Using South Carolina Medicaid administrative data, the researchers identified 1,504 children born between 2007-2009 who had at least one food allergy, and these were matched by birth month/year, sex, and race/ethnicity to 5,995 healthy children - the controls.
The team looked at the number of antibiotic prescriptions that were filled in the first year of life for all children; a total of 9,324 antibiotic prescriptions were dispensed, the most common being penicillin, cephalosporin, macrolide, and sulfonamide antibiotics.
Overall, the results of the analysis revealed that children who were prescribed antibiotics by 12 months of age were 1.21 times more likely to be diagnosed with a food allergy, compared with children who received no antibiotic prescriptions in the first year of life.
What is more, the risk of food allergy diagnosis increased with the number of antibiotic prescriptions a child received; a child who received three antibiotic prescriptions was 1.31 times more likely to have a food allergy, four prescriptions were linked to a 1.43 times greater risk, and five or more increased food allergy risk by 1.64 times.
Cephalosporin and sulfonamide antibiotics were found to have the strongest association with food allergy diagnosis, the researchers report.
The findings remained after accounting for numerous possible confounding factors, including breast-feeding, asthma, eczema, maternal age, and place of residence.
Caution should be applied when prescribing antibiotics to children
According to the researchers, children in the United States aged 3 months to 2 years are prescribed an average of 2.2 antibiotic prescriptions every year, and many of these prescriptions may be unwarranted; for example, the drugs may be used to treat viral infections, for which they are ineffective.
Healthcare providers should be cautious when prescribing antibiotics to young children, as they may spur food allergy development and other conditions.
"We need better diagnostic tools to help identify kids who truly need antibiotics. Overusing antibiotics invites more opportunity for side effects, including the potential development of food allergies, and can encourage antibacterial resistance." Dr. Bryan Love
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