This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Celedón, J. C. Articles by Gold, D. R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Celedón, J. C. Articles by Gold, D. R.

Lack of Association between Antibiotic Use in the First Year of Life and Asthma, Allergic Rhinitis, or Eczema at Age 5 Years

Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital; Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Harvard Medical School; Harvard School of Public Health; and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts

Correspondence and requests for reprints should be addressed to Juan C. Celedón, M.D., Dr.P.H., Channing Laboratory, 181 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115. E-mail: juan.celedon{at}channing.harvard.edu

ABSTRACT

Five retrospective studies have reported an association between antibiotic use in early life and asthma in childhood. We studied the relationship between the use of oral antibiotics in the first year of life and asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema at age 5 years among 448 children with a parental history of atopy monitored from birth. After adjustment for potential confounders, we found no significant association between antibiotic use in the first year of life and asthma (odds ratio [OR] for one versus no courses of antibiotics, 0.5; 95% confidence interval [CI] for OR, 0.2 to 1.5; OR for two or more versus no courses of antibiotics, 1.0; 95% CI for OR, 0.5 to 2.2), recurrent wheezing, allergic rhinitis, or eczema at age 5 years. There was no significant association between antibiotic use in the first year of life and having at least one of three atopic diseases (asthma, allergic rhinitis, or eczema) at age 5 years (OR for one versus no courses of antibiotics, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.4 to 1.4; OR for two or more versus no courses of antibiotics, 0.9; 95% CI, 0.5 to 1.4). Our findings do not support the hypothesis that antibiotic use in early life is associated with the subsequent development of asthma and atopy in childhood.

Key Words: antibiotic use • asthma • early life

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. Alm, L. Erdes, P. Mollborg, R. Pettersson, S. G. Norvenius, N. Aberg, and G. Wennergren Neonatal Antibiotic Treatment Is a Risk Factor for Early Wheezing Pediatrics, April 1, 2008; 121(4): 697 - 702. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M Harris, P. Mills, C. White, S. Moffat, A. J Newman Taylor, and P. Cullinan Recorded infections and antibiotics in early life: associations with allergy in UK children and their parents Thorax, July 1, 2007; 62(7): 631 - 637. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. L. Kozyrskyj, P. Ernst, and A. B. Becker Increased Risk of Childhood Asthma From Antibiotic Use in Early Life Chest, June 1, 2007; 131(6): 1753 - 1759. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Nutten, A. Schumann, D. Donnicola, A. Mercenier, S. Rami, and C. L. Garcia-Rodenas Antibiotic Administration Early in Life Impairs Specific Humoral Responses to an Oral Antigen and Increases Intestinal Mast Cell Numbers and Mediator Concentrations Clin. Vaccine Immunol., February 1, 2007; 14(2): 190 - 197. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Kummeling, F. F. Stelma, P. C. Dagnelie, B. E. P. Snijders, J. Penders, M. Huber, R. van Ree, P. A. van den Brandt, and C. Thijs Early Life Exposure to Antibiotics and the Subsequent Development of Eczema, Wheeze, and Allergic Sensitization in the First 2 Years of Life: The KOALA Birth Cohort Study Pediatrics, January 1, 2007; 119(1): e225 - e231. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E K Chung, R L Miller, M T Wilson, S J McGeady, and J F Culhane Antenatal risk factors, cytokines and the development of atopic disease in early childhood Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed., January 1, 2007; 92(1): F68 - F73. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Marra, L. Lynd, M. Coombes, K. Richardson, M. Legal, J. M. FitzGerald, and C. A. Marra Does Antibiotic Exposure During Infancy Lead to Development of Asthma?: A Systematic Review and Metaanalysis Chest, March 1, 2006; 129(3): 610 - 618. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Melen, S. Bruce, G. Doekes, M. Kabesch, T. Laitinen, R. Lauener, C. M. Lindgren, J. Riedler, A. Scheynius, M. van Hage-Hamsten, et al. Haplotypes of G Protein-coupled Receptor 154 Are Associated with Childhood Allergy and Asthma Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., May 15, 2005; 171(10): 1089 - 1095. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Cohet, S. Cheng, C. MacDonald, M. Baker, S. Foliaki, N. Huntington, J. Douwes, and N. Pearce Infections, medication use, and the prevalence of symptoms of asthma, rhinitis, and eczema in childhood J. Epidemiol. Community Health, October 1, 2004; 58(10): 852 - 857. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. A. Raby, J. C. Celedon, A. A. Litonjua, W. Phipatanakul, D. Sredl, E. Oken, L. Ryan, S. T. Weiss, and D. R. Gold Low-Normal Gestational Age as a Predictor of Asthma at 6 Years of Age Pediatrics, September 1, 2004; 114(3): e327 - e332. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Foliaki, S. K. Nielsen, B. Bjorksten, E. von Mutius, S. Cheng, N. Pearce, and the ISAAC Phase I Study Group Antibiotic sales and the prevalence of symptoms of asthma, rhinitis, and eczema: The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Int. J. Epidemiol., June 1, 2004; 33(3): 558 - 563. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Pekkanen Commentary: Use of antibiotics and risk of asthma Int. J. Epidemiol., June 1, 2004; 33(3): 564 - 565. [Full Text] [PDF]

				J O Warner The early life origins of asthma and related allergic disorders Arch. Dis. Child., February 1, 2004; 89(2): 97 - 102. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. J. Tobin Pediatrics, Surfactant, and Cystic Fibrosis in AJRCCM 2002 Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., February 1, 2003; 167(3): 333 - 344. [Full Text] [PDF]