Excessive use of antibiotics in the first two years of life can cause long -term consequences in health. A large study conducted in the UK, with data from more than 1 million children accompanied between 1987 and 2020, identified that early exposure to these drugs is associated with a higher risk of developing asthma, food allergies and, in some cases, even intellectual deficiency.
The work was published in the scientific journal and analyzed electronic medical records of children to evaluate the effects of antibiotic prescription in early childhood. Among babies who took the drug before 2 years, there was a significant increase in the diagnosis of allergic diseases such as asthma (24% more common), food allergy (33% more common) and allergic rhinitis (6% more common). The risk was even higher among children who received multiple treatment cycles.
“These results are an important warning. Antibiotics save lives, but if they are overly used and out of precise indication, they can modify the children’s immunological and neurological future,” commented pediatrician Linus Pauling Fascina, medical manager of the Gilson de Cássia Marques de Carvalho Municipal Hospital in São Paulo, a public unit managed by the Einstein Hospital Israelita.
According to him, in clinical practice it is already observed that the abuse of antibiotics in childhood is linked to more cases of allergies and, in part due to the impact of these medicines in. “But the connection with intellectual disabilities is unprecedented and draws attention to the urgency of deepening research,” he said.
In fact, one of the most surprising associations of the study was precisely with intellectual deficiency. Children exposed to five or more antibiotic cycles before the age of 2 performed almost three times higher to develop this condition compared to those who took only one or two cycles. In the pediatrician’s evaluation, it is a data that changes the dimension of the debate and needs to be evaluated with caution.
“In the early years of life, the intestine is still forming its bacterial flora. When we use antibiotics, especially repeated, we eliminate not only harmful bacteria, but also beneficial. The intestine-brake axis, responsible for modulating neurotransmitters, inflammation and even neuronal plasticity, may be profoundly impacted by antibiotics at a critical phase of a critical phase of a critical phase of a critical phase of a critical phase of a critical phase of a critical phase of a critical phase of a critical phase of a critical phase of a critical phase of a critical phase of a critical phase of a critical phase of a critical phase in a Development, he said.
Despite expressive findings, the study did not find an association between the use of antibiotics and other diseases, such as type 1 diabetes, celiac disease, hyperactivity care deficit disorder (), autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) or. The authors reinforce that the data were adjusted to minimize confusion factors such as family history, socioeconomic level and pre-existing conditions.
Indiscriminate use
The problem, according to fascina, is not in the antibiotic itself, but in the indiscriminate use of this medicine. Often antibiotics are prescribed as a preventive or pressure measure of parents, even in paintings that do not justify intervention. “Unfortunately, there is still the myth that antibiotic” heals anything “. This leads to unnecessary prescription, especially in cases of low fever, flu or colds, caused by viruses and do not respond to this type of medicine,” he said.
But how do you know when use is really necessary? “There are situations in which antibiotics are non -negotiable, such as bacterial pneumonia, meningitis, sepsis, severe urinary tract or otitis media over repetition. Under these conditions, the saved medicine.”
The risk is in excessive prescriptions in viral paintings, where there is no effectiveness. To reduce this practice, the pediatrician defends strategies such as continuous education of health professionals, the clear explanation of parents about the difference between viral and bacterial infection, and even the conduct of “waiting and observing” when patient safety allows.
The doctor points out that parents can contribute to prevention early on adopting the rational use of medicines and some essential measures. These include: a responsible prenatal care, avoid unnecessary antibiotics during pregnancy, stimulate normal birth whenever possible, prioritize exclusive breastfeeding up to six months, keep vaccines up to date, reduce exposure to harmful factors-such as passive smoking and pollution-and ensure a balanced diet for mother and baby. He also reinforces the importance of talking to the pediatrician about the real nominations of the antibiotic and to avoid self -medication.
