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A new study has found that antibiotic use during pregnancy is linked with the development of asthma in children. Pregnancy is an overwhelming time for any couple, and while it can be full of excitement and joy, there are also things that can be a bit nerve-wracking.
It is understandable that couples are very careful about their exposure to certain foods, environments, and medications when they are pregnant. They are worried about the impact it could have on the developing baby, and studies are always being done to help them know what they should avoid, and what is safe.
According to Medical Xpress, a new study has found that children may have a higher risk of developing asthma if their mothers took antibiotics during pregnancy. This study was done by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, and it can be read in full here.
This study was done because it is estimated that 4% of children in Norway have asthma by the time they are 7 years old, and they wanted to find out what increased their risk factor, and if they could actually find a cause. While it has already been “established” that the use of antibiotics in pregnancy is linked with asthma in children, researchers wanted to know whether it was actually the antibiotic that caused the increased risk, or if it was the infection.
To complete this study, researchers looked at data from two population-based cohorts, which included more than 53,000 children. What they found was that when they looked at both cohorts, they found that maternal antibiotic use in pregnancy was associated with asthma development by the time a child was 7. While some antibiotics cannot be avoided, and are essential for the treatment of illnesses, this can at least let parents and medical providers know what to watch out for.
If they know that a mother had to take antibiotics during her pregnancy, they can know to monitor the baby as it grows into a child and keep a closer eye for any symptoms that may occur. Early detection and treatment of asthma can help children thrive, and be it that they can still interact with their daily lives and activities.
They found that this risk was the highest if the women took the antibiotics in the last stage of pregnancy, and the complete risk was a 54% increased risk compared to women who didn’t take antibiotics during pregnancy.
Sources: Medical Xpress, Springer Link
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