Children whose mothers took antacids during pregnancy are said to have a 30% increased risk of developing asthma growing up.
Heartburn, gastric reflux… These ailments affect nearly half of pregnant women. To calm them, some opt for natural remedies. But in some cases, the doctor will need to prescribe antacids. Medicines that would promote the development of asthma in exposed children in utero, according to a study published in Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
These stomach disorders are very common in expectant mothers due to the hormonal upheaval and the pressure placed on the stomach by the uterus. H2 antihistamines or proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are prescribed to pregnant women regardless of the term of pregnancy. “The data published in women exposed during pregnancy are very numerous and reassuring,” says the Reference Center on Teratogenic Agents (Crat). Nevertheless, a link between asthma and allergies in children exposed in utero is highlighted by several scientific works.
Researchers from the University of Edinburgh (Scotland) and Tampere (Finland) thus wished to study this association again by analyzing 8 studies involving more than 1.3 million children. Medical records of mothers and children suggest that those exposed to antacids during pregnancy are at least 30% more likely than others to have asthma symptoms.
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“Our study reports an association between the onset of asthma in children and the use of antacids in mothers during pregnancy. It is very important to stress that this association does not prove that these drugs are the cause of asthma, and additional work will be necessary ”, insists Professor Aziz Sheikh of the University of Edinburgh.
Thus, the authors want to be reassuring and assure that pregnant women suffering from gastric reflux can continue to take their treatment. If the symptoms persist, it is better to consult your doctor again, they specify.
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