The causes of hay fever – antibiotics
There has been a great deal of scientific debate in recent years into whether children who take antibiotics are at greater risk of developing allergies than those who don’t. Despite several studies into a possible link between antibiotics and allergy development, we don’t yet have a definitive answer.
A number of study reports have suggested that allergies are in fact more likely to develop in people who took antibiotics as young children, whereas others indicate that this is not the case. It would appear, however, that studies showing a positive correlation between antibiotics and allergies are generally flawed. For instance, in one study, consumption of antibiotics in the first five years of life showed a definite link between the development of asthma and other allergies. It was believed, though, that the link was the result of medications prescribed for respiratory disorders – indeed, the authors of the study concluded that such respiratory system disorders must have eventually led to the development of further respiratory problems.
Studies that attempt to show an association between antibiotic use and the development of allergies in children are always at risk of being clouded by unrecognized asthma. That is, coughs, wheezes and such may be treated by antibiotic medication when the child is, in fact, displaying early symptoms of asthma. Studies which have focused instead on people with symptoms unrelated to asthma are therefore believed to give a clearer picture of the real situation. One such study has shown a link, but one that was not of statistical significance. Moreover, this study looked back at the first 30 years of life of its subjects, failing to take into account the fact that asthma has greatly increased in prevalence over that time. The subjects in the study had been issued an average of three antibiotics prescriptions a year for five years. A more recent study into the average usage of prescription antibiotics indicated that the real average may be as high as ten prescriptions a year.
Probiotics
Recent studies have focused on probiotics in relation to allergic disease. Probiotics are dietary supplements that contain active cultures of beneficial bacteria (yeast). They are believed to help healthy intestinal flora re-establish themselves after a course of antibiotics has been taken. Interestingly, when given to subjects in a number of controlled trials, they appeared to lower the risk of allergic disease. This strongly suggests that antibiotics raise the risk. Nutritionists state, therefore, that keeping the intestinal flora healthy is a great defence against allergic diseases such as asthma, eczema and hay fever.
Probiotic supplements usually contain healthy bacteria called acidophilus. It is rather like liquid yogurt and pleasant to the taste buds. Actimel and Yakult are respected probiotic brand names and are available from most supermarkets. Other foodstuffs also contain probiotics, such as certain yogurts. A pregnant woman can take probiotics to protect her nenborn child, and a breastfeeding mother can take probiotics to protect her baby.
Help for parents
If you are reluctant for your child to take antibiotics, what should you do if your doctor recommends that a course is needed? My best advice is as follows:
• As there are often medical alternatives to antibiotics, ask your doctor if another safe treatment for your child’s infection can be prescribed.
• Ask your doctor to recommend a good non-drug-oriented treatment. Whether or not your doctor agrees to let you try another approach will depend on the severity of your child’s particular infection, and the doctor’s own treatment beliefs and leanings.
• If it is vital that your child take a course of antibiotics, ask your doctor if it is possible to be prescribed the most appropriate narrow-spectrum choice. Antibiotics are available that can target particular offending bacteria. Broad-spectrum antibiotics tend to kill beneficial intestinal flora (beneficial bacteria) as well as killing the culprit bacteria.
• When your child has finished a course of antibiotics, a probiotic supplement is recommended, such as acidophilus, which will help rebalance the intestinal bacteria. If you need further information on this, ask your pharmacist.