title: Antibiotic use in infancy and symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema in children 6 and 7 years old: International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood Phase III.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Phase III of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood measured the global prevalence of symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema in children.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the associations between the use of antibiotics in the first year of life and symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema in children 6 and 7 years old.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parents or guardians of children 6 and 7 years old completed written questionnaires on current symptoms and possible risk factors. Prevalence odds ratios (ORs) were estimated by using logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 193,412 children from 71 centers in 29 countries participated. Reported use of antibiotics in the first year of life was associated with an increased risk of current asthma symptoms (wheezing in the previous 12 months) with an OR (adjusted for sex, region of the world, language, and per capita gross national income) of 1.96 (95% CI, 1.85-2.07); this fell to 1.70 (1.60-1.80) when adjusted for other risk factors for asthma. Similar associations were observed for severe asthma symptoms (OR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.67-1.98), and asthma ever (OR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.83-2.06). Use of antibiotics in the first year of life was also associated, but less strongly, with increased risks of current symptoms of rhinoconjunctivitis (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.46-1.66) and eczema (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.33-1.51).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is an association between antibiotic use in the first year of life and current symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema in children 6 and 7 years old. Further research is required to determine whether the observed associations are causal or are a result of confounding by indication or reverse causation.
authors.affiliation: Center for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Sunia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Foliaki
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pearce
authors.forename: Bengt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Björkstén
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mallol
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Montefort
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: von Mutius
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D003231:Conjunctivitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004485:Eczema / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents