LIFESTYLE NEWS - Taking antibiotics at a very young age could increase the risk of certain allergies later in life, new research suggests. 

According to a study by Utrecht University in the Netherlands, early-life exposure to antibiotics is related to an increased risk of both eczema and hay fever later in life.  

The researchers analysed dozens of studies published between 1996 and 2015 that included hundreds of thousands of people. 

Treatment with antibiotics within the first two years of life was associated with a 15% to 41% increased risk of the skin condition eczema and a 15% to 56% increased risk of hay fever later in life, the study review found. 

Risk for both conditions was higher among those who received two courses of antibiotics than among those who received one course of antibiotics, according to the study. While the study does not prove a cause-and-effect relationship, it's possible that antibiotics disrupt microorganisms in the gut, leading to reduced immune response, the researchers said. 

Source: www.webmd.com 

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