Allergic manifestation at an early age is linked with both pre- and postnatal antibiotic exposure, with the former also showing food sensitization, according to a study published in Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. Christina E. West and colleagues assessed links between pre- and postnatal antibiotic exposures and the development of allergies until age 18months. For a prospective, population-based study, they included 387 mother-child dyads from which data on antibiotic exposure was collected via Web-based questionnaires. Parents noted symptoms of physician-diagnosed asthma, eczema, and wheeze; they also observed physician-diagnosed food allergy until age 18 months. Serum IgE levels to inhalant and food allergens were determined at 18 months. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regressions were used to estimate correlations. The study team found positive links between food sensitization and prenatal antibiotic exposure. A positive correlation was also determined between postnatal antibiotics and asthma, eczema, and wheeze. “Future studies should investigate the relationship between antibiotic exposure and food sensitization later in childhood,” wrote West, et al.
