(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Exposure to lots of germs may be
just what the doctor ordered to keep your child from developing asthma. A new
study links early antibiotic use to an increased risk of asthma, while exposure
to a dog appears to lessen a child's asthma risk.
Researchers from the University of Manitoba and McGill
University in Montreal report children who are given antibiotics before their
first birthday are significantly more likely to develop asthma by age 7. The
risk of developing asthma doubled for children administered antibiotics if they
were not also exposed to a dog.
The germs brought into a home by a dog are thought to help an
infant's immune system develop normally, according to study authors. One
hypothesis for what causes asthma is early exposure to microbes helps a child's
body develop a stronger immune system, making the child less likely to develop
asthma. "We hypothesize that lesser contact with dogs during infancy results in
a lower microbial load and makes infants more vulnerable to the effects of
antibiotics," write the study authors.
Researchers report several factors influence the likelihood
of a child developing asthma by age seven. More courses of antibiotics increased
the risk, with children who took four courses having 1.5-times the risk of
asthma compared to children who did not take antibiotics. Additionally, children
who developed asthma were more likely to have used a specific type of
antibiotic, called BS cephalosporins.
Study authors concluded more studies are needed to better
understand what role antibiotic use and other risk factors play in the
development of asthma. "In the interim, it would be prudent to avoid the
unnecessary use BS antibiotics in the first year of life when other antibiotics
are available," wrote the study authors.
SOURCE: CHEST, 131:1753-1759
