title: Does early life exposure to antibiotics increase the risk of eczema? A systematic review.
abstract: A number of studies have suggested that early life exposure to antibiotics can lead to an increased risk of developing eczema. This systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies, involving children or young adults aged 0-25 years, assessed the impact of antibiotic exposure either in utero or during the first 12 months of life on subsequent eczema risk. Twenty studies examined the association between prenatal and/or postnatal exposure to antibiotics and development of eczema. The pooled odds ratio (OR) for the 17 studies examining postnatal antibiotic exposure was 1.41 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.30-1.53]. The pooled OR for the 10 longitudinal studies was 1.40 (95% CI 1.19-1.64), compared with a pooled OR of 1.43 (95% CI 1.36-1.51) for the seven cross-sectional studies. There was a significant dose-response association, suggesting a 7% increase in the risk of eczema for each additional antibiotic course received during the first year of life [pooled OR 1.07 (95% CI 1.02-1.11)]. Finally, the pooled OR for the four studies relating to antenatal exposure was 1.30 (95% CI 0.86-1.95). We conclude that exposure to antibiotics in the first year of life, but not prenatally, is more common in children with eczema.
authors.affiliation: Academic Clinical Fellow/Core Medical Trainee, Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7EH, U.K.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsakok
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: McKeever
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yeo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Flohr
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004485:Eczema / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D064887:Observational Studies as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents