Related resources
Search for item elsewhere
University researcher(s)
Academic department(s)
Atopic wheezing and early life antibiotic exposure: a nested case-control study.
Thomas M, Custovic A, Woodcock A, Morris J, Simpson A, Murray CS
Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2006;17( 3):184-188.
Access to files
Full-text and supplementary files are not available from Manchester eScholar. Use our list of Related resources to find this item elsewhere. Alternatively, request a copy from the Library's Document supply service.
Abstract
Several factors including early-life antibiotic usage have been implicated in the rising prevalence of allergic sensitization and asthma.A nested case-control study comparing antibiotic exposure of 37 sensitized children with recurrent wheeze (age 3-5 yr) and 37 non-sensitized children who had never wheezed was carried out within a population-based birth cohort (matching for age, sex, parental atopy, allergen exposure, and pet ownership).We collected data on antibiotic prescriptions during first 3 yr of life (timing, type, indication) from the primary care medical records.Significantly, more cases than controls received one or more antibiotic courses during the first year of life (92% vs.70%, p = 0.04).The median time to first antibiotic course was shorter for the cases than the controls (6 vs.8 months, p = 0.03).The total number of antibiotic receipts was greater amongst cases in each of the first 3 yr of life, but this reached significance only when the whole three-year period was considered (249 vs.182 courses, p = 0.05).The increased ratio of antibiotic receipt in cases over controls was highest in the first year of life (1.32, 95% CI 0.99-1.78).Significantly more cases than controls were prescribed antibiotics for lower respiratory tract infection during the first 3 yr (p = 0.007), but not during the first year of life (p = 0.52).Antibiotics use by class was similar in the two groups.Our data support the hypothesis that early life exposure to broad-spectrum antibiotics may have a causative role in sensitisation and the expression of wheeze.