TY - JOUR
T1 - Antibiotic exposure in early infancy and risk for childhood atopy
AU - Johnson, Christine Cole
AU - Ownby, Dennis R.
AU - Alford, Sharon Hensley
AU - Havstad, Suzanne L.
AU - Williams, L. Keoki
AU - Zoratti, Edward M.
AU - Peterson, Edward L.
AU - Joseph, Christine L.M.
N1 - Funding Information:
Supported by US National Institutes of Health (AI24156, AI50681, HL67427, PO3ES06639), the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Michigan, and the Fund for Henry Ford Hospital.
PY - 2005/6
Y1 - 2005/6
N2 - Background: The increase in pediatric allergy and asthma parallels the increase in use of antibiotics. Antibiotics disturb the flora of the gastrointestinal tract, possibly perturbing the developing immune system. Objective: We evaluated whether antibiotic use during early infancy increased the risk for atopy. Methods: Antibiotic prescriptions documented in medical records were collected from a birth cohort born from 1987 through 1989 (n = 725). At 6 to 7 years of age, 448 were followed by means of examination, including skin prick tests and serum IgE measurements to common allergens. Results: Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% CIs were calculated comparing children with any versus those with no antibiotic use in the first 6 months and the outcomes of atopy (any positive skin test response), seroatopy (any positive specific IgE test result), either atopy or seroatopy, and both atopy and seroatopy. Atopy increased with antibiotic use approaching statistical significance (aOR, 1.48; 95% CI, 0.94-2.34; P =. 09); however, the risk was concentrated among children with less than 2 pets in the home (aOR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.07-2.80; P =. 024) and children breast-fed for 4 or more months (aOR, 3.02; 95% CI, 1.27-7.17; P =. 013). The aORs were generally in the same direction for seroatopy and the combined categories. Conclusion: Antibiotic use in early life appears to contribute to increased risk for atopy in certain subgroups of children.
AB - Background: The increase in pediatric allergy and asthma parallels the increase in use of antibiotics. Antibiotics disturb the flora of the gastrointestinal tract, possibly perturbing the developing immune system. Objective: We evaluated whether antibiotic use during early infancy increased the risk for atopy. Methods: Antibiotic prescriptions documented in medical records were collected from a birth cohort born from 1987 through 1989 (n = 725). At 6 to 7 years of age, 448 were followed by means of examination, including skin prick tests and serum IgE measurements to common allergens. Results: Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% CIs were calculated comparing children with any versus those with no antibiotic use in the first 6 months and the outcomes of atopy (any positive skin test response), seroatopy (any positive specific IgE test result), either atopy or seroatopy, and both atopy and seroatopy. Atopy increased with antibiotic use approaching statistical significance (aOR, 1.48; 95% CI, 0.94-2.34; P =. 09); however, the risk was concentrated among children with less than 2 pets in the home (aOR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.07-2.80; P =. 024) and children breast-fed for 4 or more months (aOR, 3.02; 95% CI, 1.27-7.17; P =. 013). The aORs were generally in the same direction for seroatopy and the combined categories. Conclusion: Antibiotic use in early life appears to contribute to increased risk for atopy in certain subgroups of children.
KW - Allergy
KW - Antibiotics
KW - Atopy
KW - Children
KW - IgE
KW - Skin testing
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jaci.2005.04.020
DO - 10.1016/j.jaci.2005.04.020
M3 - Article
C2 - 15940137
AN - SCOPUS:20444441026
SN - 0091-6749
VL - 115
SP - 1218
EP - 1224
JO - Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
JF - Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
IS - 6
ER -