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Published on: August 7, 2017
Effects of antibiotic consumption on children 2-8 years of age developing asthma
Hamid Reza Khalkhali1, Sima Oshnouei2, Shaker Salarilak3
1Inpatient Safety Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran ; Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
Insights
Antibiotic use in early childhood is linked to a higher risk of developing asthma. This study found a significant association between antibiotic consumption in the first year of life and increased odds of childhood asthma.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Medicine
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Childhood asthma prevalence is rising globally.
- Antibiotic exposure is a suspected environmental factor contributing to this increase.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between antibiotic exposure and childhood asthma risk.
- To determine if early-life antibiotic use impacts asthma development in children aged 2-8 years.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study was conducted in Iran involving 207 asthmatic children (cases) and 400 healthy children (controls) aged 2-8 years.
- Data on antibiotic exposure and other risk factors were collected via parental interviews using a validated questionnaire.
- Cases were diagnosed based on Global Initiative for Asthma criteria; controls were matched for age and gender.
Main Results:
- Antibiotic consumption during the first year of life was associated with a significantly increased odds ratio (OR) for asthma symptoms (adjusted OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.27-2.88).
- This association remained significant after adjusting for potential confounders like family history of asthma, preterm delivery, and birth order.
Conclusions:
- Early-life antibiotic consumption in children is associated with an elevated risk of developing childhood asthma.
- Further research is recommended to confirm these findings and explore underlying mechanisms.
Objectives:
Antibiotic exposure in children is a possible contributor to the increasing asthma prevalence in several countries. The present study aimed to investigate the association between antibiotic exposure and the risk of developing childhood asthma at 2-8 years of age.
Methods:
A case-control study was undertaken among children aged 2-8 years old between March and September 2010 in the Urmia district in the northwest of Iran. The cases were doctor-diagnosed asthmatic children based on Global Initiative for Asthma criteria (n=207), and the controls were children without respiratory symptoms (n=400) selected by frequency matching by age and gender. Clinical data including antibiotic exposure was collected by a validated and reliable questionnaire, which was completed by interviewing parents/guardians.
Results:
Antibiotic consumption during the first year of life increased the odds ratio [OR] of asthma symptoms at 2-8 years of age (crude OR, 2.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.53-3.35; p<0.01), and the strength of association was similar after adjusting for a family history of asthma or atopic disorder, preterm delivery, birth order, and delivery method (adjusted OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.27-2.88; p=0.03).
Conclusions:
Our study suggests that antibiotic consumption in children was associated with an increased risk of childhood asthma, and an additional confirmative study is needed.
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