Research from Yale Universtiy has found that babies given antibiotics in the first six months have a 50% higher risk of developing asthma by the age of six.

The study involved 1,401 US children assess the association between antibiotic use within the first 6 months of life and asthma and allergy at 6 years of age between 2003 and 2007. The study followed the children and mothers from pregnancy until the children were six years old.

Significantly, the study also found a strong association between asthma and antibiotic use even in families with no history of asthma.

Researchers suspect that antibiotics interference with beneficial bacteria the gut, which are key to t.he development of a baby’s immune system. THe result of the interference can be detrimental to the full develpmoent of an infants immune system, which can leads to allergic reactions.

Source:
American Journal of Epidemiology