Childhood Antibiotic Exposure May Result in IBD Symptoms: Study

Researchers warn that side effects of antibiotics for children may damage the under-developed microbiome in the gut, leading to an increased risk of IBD.

New research indicates children who are given antibiotics face a higher risk of developing irritable bowel disease (IBD), raising serious concerns about side effects of many widely used medications.

The findings were published in the journal Inflammatory Bowel Diseases on January 31, warning that the risk of developing Crohn’s disease, a form of IBD, was nearly 60% greater among individuals who took antibiotics as children, especially within the first year of life.

Irritable bowel disease is a group of chronic conditions that cause intestinal inflammation, ulcers and damage to the intestinal tract. IBD includes conditions like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Symptoms can include chronic diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, fatigue and weight loss. There is no cure and treatment involves managing symptoms. Cases of childhood IBD have reportedly increased in recent years.

As a result, the findings of this study join other research linking antibiotic overuse during childhood to an increased risk of bowel disorders.

For the new study, researchers from the University of Oslo in Norway conducted a review of 10 studies examining the link between childhood antibiotic use and the risk of IBD. Led by Dr. Ketil Størdal, the team found more than 2,700 cases of IBD.

Data indicated children who used antibiotics, especially during early childhood, had a higher risk of developing IBD later compared to those with no exposure to antibiotics, including:

• 42% higher risk of developing IBD
• 59% increased risk of developing Crohn’s disease
• 23% greater risk of having ulcerative colitis

“In several of the studies included in the current meta-analysis, antibiotic exposure during the first year of life was more strongly associated with subsequent IBD than exposures later in childhood.”

— Dr. Ketil Størdal, Systematic review and meta-analysis of childhood exposure to antibiotics and the subsequent risk of IBD

The research team determined that antibiotic use may affect the gut microbiome, which is still developing during childhood. The microbiome refers to a vast community of bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms that live in the gut and play a key role in digestion, immune function and overall health.

According to the researchers, a microbiome that is not fully developed is more susceptible to being suppressed by medications, like antibiotics, that can fully wipe it out, which may be a risk factor for IBD.

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