Early Antibiotic Exposure in early childhood Linked to Higher Infection Risk and asthma later: Study

Group I had 1496 children, group II 3413, group III 356 and group IV 17,128 children. For all antibiotic exposure groups, the risk of infections and antibiotic use was significantly higher (20%–100%), with the largest effect observed for infants treated with antibiotics.

This group also had a 2-fold risk of asthma diagnosis when compared with controls (odds ratio: 1.91, P < 0.05). In this cohort study, children with early antibiotic exposure had higher rates of infections and antibiotic use later in childhood compared with controls. Diagnoses of asthma were significantly more common in children with early antibiotic exposure and this effect was most evident after the age of 8 years. The observed late side-effects of antibiotic use, possibly mediated through a disrupted microbiome, should promote a conservative approach to antibiotic treatment in young infants.

Reference:

Baeringsdottir, Birta MD*,†; Haraldsson, Asgeir MD, PhD*,†; Hrafnkelsson, Birgir PhD‡; Thors, Valtyr MD, PhD*,†. Infant Antibiotic Exposure Is Associated With Increased Risk of Later Childhood Infections, Antibiotic Use and Asthma. The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal ():10.1097/INF.0000000000004867, June 04, 2025. | DOI: 10.1097/INF.0000000000004867