Early life antibiotic exposure increases the risk of developing allergic symptoms later in life: A meta-analysis: A meta-analysis

Fariba Ahmadizar, Susanne J. H. Vijverberg, Hubertus G. M. Arets, Anthonius de Boer, Jason E. Lang, Johan Garssen, Aletta Kraneveld, Anke H. Maitland-van der Zee

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Abstract

This study systematically reviewed and quantified the relationship between exposure to antibiotics during the first 2 years of life and the risk of allergies/atopies including hay fever, eczema, food allergy, positive skin prick testing (SPT) or elevated allergen-specific serum/plasma immunoglobulin (Ig) E levels later in life. PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched for observational studies published from January 1966 through November 11, 2015. Overall pooled estimates of the odds ratios (ORs) were obtained using fixed or random-effects models. Early life exposure to antibiotics appears to be related with an increased risk of allergic symptoms of hay fever, eczema and food allergy later in life. The summary OR for the risk of hay fever (22 studies) was 1.23, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.13-1.34; I(2) : 77.0%. The summary OR for the risk of eczema (22 studies) was 1.26, 95% CI: 1.15-1.37; I(2) : 74.2% and the summary OR for food allergy (3 studies) was 1.42, 95% CI: 1.08-1.87; I(2) : 80.8%. However, no association was found for antibiotics exposure early in life and objective atopy measurements including positive SPT or elevated allergen-specific serum/plasma IgE levels. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)971-986
JournalAllergy
Volume73
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2018

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