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Neonatal sepsis, antibiotic therapy and later risk of asthma and allergy

Tanja Sobko1, Jessica Schiött, Anna Ehlin

  • 1Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, S-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden. tanja.sobko@ki.se

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology
|January 19, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Neonatal sepsis and early antibiotic use increase the risk of developing asthma later in life. These early-life exposures may impact childhood allergy and asthma development.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Neonatal sepsis and early antibiotic administration can alter infant gut microbiota and immune system development.
  • These perinatal factors may influence the long-term risk of allergic diseases and asthma.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between neonatal sepsis, early antibiotic therapy, and the later prevalence of asthma and allergies.
  • To examine the impact of perinatal infection and antibiotic exposure on the development of atopic diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC) questionnaire for screening.
  • Analyzed data from three cohorts comprising 834 participants (median age 12 years).
  • Compared prevalence of asthma, hay fever, and atopic eczema based on perinatal exposures.

Main Results:

  • Asthma prevalence was significantly higher in individuals with a history of neonatal sepsis (OR 1.63) and early antibiotic therapy (OR 1.48).
  • A trend towards increased atopic eczema was observed following neonatal sepsis (OR 1.39).
  • No significant difference in hay fever prevalence was found.

Conclusions:

  • Neonatal sepsis is linked to an elevated risk of developing asthma in later childhood and adolescence.
  • Early antibiotic exposure might play a contributing role in the association between neonatal sepsis and increased asthma risk.
  • Perinatal infections and antibiotic treatments warrant further investigation for their long-term effects on immune-mediated diseases.

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