In a study conducted at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, researchers followed 448 children from pre-birth to 7 years old. 49% had received antibiotics in the first 6 months of life. The most common antibiotic prescribed was penicillin. They found that:

1. by the age of 7 children given at least 1 antibiotic in the first 6 months were 1.5 times more likely to develop allergies than those who were not.

2. By the age of 7 children given at least 1 antibiotic in the first 6 months and who lived with fewer than 2 pets were 1.7 times more likely to develop allergies and 3 times more likely to develop asthma.

3. By the age of 7 children given at least 1 antibiotic in the first 6 months and whose mother had a history of allergies were twice as likely to develop allergies.

4. By the age of 7 children at least 1 antibiotic in the first 6 months and who were breast fed were 3 times more likely to develop allergies – but no more likely to develop asthma – than the controls.

Dr Christine Johnson who led the study theorises that the use of antibiotics may affect the intestinal tract and alter the development of the immune system. Finding presented at the Annual Conference of the European Respiratory Society on September 30th.

Courtesy of Latitudes, the newsletter of the Association for Comprehensive Neurotherapy www.latitudes.org

First published in May 2006

Click here for more research reports on allergies to drugs

Top of page