When a baby is exposed to these drugs during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, it disrupts the gut microbiota, which can harm the immune system.
- Exposure to antibiotics, including during pregnancy, is harmful to the development of newborns
- By creating a lack of immune cells, antibiotics reduce the body’s ability to fight allergies
Antibiotics are generally not recommended during pregnancy, except in exceptional cases. Certain infections or pathologies may require this type of treatment, but only a doctor can prescribe it. This caution is explained by the potential effects of these drugs on infants. A study from Rutgers University, located in New Jersey, confirms that they are harmful to the proper development of the baby. In mBiothey find that they increase the risk of allergies.
A long-term impact
Previous research has shown that antibiotics disrupt babies’ gut microbiota, the collection of good bacteria found in the gut. These are involved in the development of the immune system, and in the prevention of certain pathologies. In this new study, American researchers wanted to learn more about the link between antibiotics and immune cells. The scientific team used mice to observe the effect of antibiotics on immune cells, T cells. They exposed newly born rodents or pregnant females to antibiotics and then observed the development of the mice. They find that these drugs act only on T cells present in the colon, but not on those in the lungs, spleen or upper digestive tract. “We have observed how the offspring inherit the unbalanced microbiota of the mothers“, say the researchers. According to them, this has long-term consequences, which persist into adulthood: the lack of T cells would be irreversible. Concretely, this early exposure to antibiotics compromises “the body’s ability to stop allergic reactions“.
What are the risks associated with antibiotics?
Depending on the substances used, antibiotics can have different effects on the infant. Some risk compromising its growth, others increase the risk of miscarriage or malformation. In a 2014 study, scientists found that they may be the cause of childhood obesity. Children of mothers who took antibiotics during pregnancy had an 84% higher risk of being obese at age seven, compared to those whose mothers had not taken them. For these different reasons, it is essential to consult a doctor before continuing or starting antibiotic treatment during pregnancy.
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