Antibiotics and Antacids in infancy raise risk of allergy
Use of either antibiotics or antacids during infancy increased the risk of childhood allergies, including asthma, to an equal degree. Health records of nearly 800,000 children born between 2001 and 2013 were reviewed. The follow-up period averaged 4.5 years, at which point more than half of the children had developed some form of allergy.
Babies who received antacids such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or antihistamines at some point during their first six months of life had twice the risk of developing a food allergy, especially for cow’s milk, and a 50 percent higher risk of hay fever and anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction.
Babies given antibiotics during the first six months of life had more than twice the risk of asthma, a 14 percent increased risk for food allergy, as well as a 50 percent higher risk of anaphylaxis and hay fever. According to the researchers, the common link between antacids and antibiotics is their impact on intestinal bacteria.
By altering the balance of gut bacteria, it can cause the child’s immune system to overreact, triggering an allergy. The scientists also noted there’s evidence to suggest antacids affect the digestion of proteins, and may alter the development of a child’s immune system pathways.
