![\"News](\"https:\/\/consumer.healthday.com\/media-library\/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzYzMjQxNS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2MzQ2NTc2MH0.i_0v_USO0QeGp2UOTVagiAqBv2qvkTju2HuofNY6Qqc\/image.jpg\"\/)
<\/p>\n
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News)<\/p>\n
Kids given antibiotics before their second birthday may have a heightened risk for chronic conditions like allergies<\/a> and obesity<\/a>, a new study suggests.<\/p>\n The drugs<\/a>‘ effect on the “microbiome” — trillions of helpful microbes living in the human body<\/a> — might play a role in a baby’s future health, Mayo Clinic researchers said.<\/p>\n The study analyzed data from more than 14,500 children. About 70% of these children were given antibiotics before age 2. Those kids were more likely to have multiple illnesses or conditions later in childhood, the study found.<\/p>\n Early use of antibiotics increased the risk of asthma<\/a>, allergic rhinitis<\/a>, weight issues and obesity<\/a>, food allergies<\/a>, attention-deficit hyperactivity<\/a> disorder, celiac disease<\/a> and atopic dermatitis<\/a>, the researchers found.<\/p>\n Types and frequency of illness depended on age, type of antibiotic, dose and number of doses. There also were differences between boys and girls.<\/p>\n Although antibiotics may only have a passing effect on the microbiome, they might also have long-term consequences, the Mayo Clinic team theorized. However, the researchers noted the study cannot show a direct cause-and-effect relationship.<\/p>\n “We want to emphasize that this study shows association, not causation of these conditions,” said Nathan LeBrasseur, a researcher at Mayo’s Kogod Center on Aging<\/a>. “These findings offer the opportunity to target future research to determine more reliable and safer approaches to timing, dosing and types of antibiotics for children in this age group.”<\/p>\n Although data show an increase in some of the childhood conditions found in the study, experts are not sure why. Other than the issue of drug-resistant bacteria, antibiotics have been presumed safe by most pediatricians, the researchers note.<\/p>\n The report was published Nov. 16 in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings<\/i>.<\/p>\n More information<\/strong><\/p>\n The American Academy of Pediatrics<\/a> has more on antibiotic use in children<\/a>.<\/p>\n SOURCE: Mayo Clinic, press release, Nov. 16, 2020<\/p>\n Steven Reinberg<\/p>\n ![\"MedicalNews\"](\"https:\/\/images.medicinenet.com\/images\/HealthDay\/healthday.png\")
Copyright \u00a9 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n
\n
\n ![](\"https:\/\/images.medicinenet.com\/\/images\/slideshow\/childhood-illnesses-s1-sick-child-wiping-nose.jpg\"\/)
\n