Seoul, May 11
Girls given antibiotics during their first year of life, especially in the first three months, are more likely to enter puberty at an earlier age, according to new research.
The research, presented at the first Joint Congress between the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) and the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE), found that the likelihood of early puberty was also higher among those exposed to a greater variety of antibiotic classes.
The findings highlight the importance of using these medicines in infants appropriately and how early-life drug exposure could shape future health outcomes.
Early puberty, also known as central precocious puberty (CPP), is a condition characterised by the early onset of secondary sexual development in children. In girls this means before age 8 and, in boys, before age 9.
Early puberty mostly affects girls and often has no obvious cause, while it is less common in boys. Over the past few decades, early puberty has been on the rise and researchers are continuously investigating the potential contributing factors.
In this study, researchers from Hanyang University Guri Hospital and Hanyang University Medical Center analysed data on the antibiotic intake of 322,731 children, aged 0–12 months, in South Korea.
They followed these children until the girls turned 9 years old and the boys were 10, and found that girls who were prescribed antibiotics before 3 months of age were 33 per cent more likely to start puberty early.
The risk was 40 per cent higher in girls who received antibiotics before 14 days of age, and overall, the earlier the antibiotic exposure, the greater the risk of early puberty.
Additionally, girls who used five or more classes of antibiotics had a 22 per cent increased risk of early puberty compared to those who used two or fewer classes. No association was found between antibiotic intake and early puberty in boys.
“This population-based study is one of the first to explore this association between early-life antibiotic use, including the timing, frequency and number of classes, and in such a large national cohort of children,†said Dr Yunsoo Choe at Hanyang University Guri Hospital in South Korea, who was involved in the study.
The results may encourage doctors and parents to consider the long-term effects of antibiotics when making treatment decisions for young children, added Dr Choe.
—IANS
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is really concerning! In India, antibiotics are often overprescribed for minor illnesses. Doctors need to be more cautious, especially with infants. My niece was given antibiotics for a simple cold when she was 2 months old 😟
Interesting study but we must remember correlation doesn't equal causation. The Korean healthcare system is different from ours - would be good to see similar research in Indian population. Still, better safe than sorry when it comes to infant medication.
As a mother, this worries me. In our culture, we often rush to doctors for every small fever. Maybe we should trust our traditional home remedies more for minor infections in babies. My mother used to say "let the body fight first" before medicines.
The study only shows association in girls. I wonder if this has something to do with how female hormones develop differently? Also, early puberty is becoming more common worldwide - could there be other environmental factors at play too?
Doctors in India need to read this! Many prescribe antibiotics like candy. My pediatrician always says "let's wait 48 hours before deciding on antibiotics" unless absolutely necessary. More doctors should follow this approach ðŸ‘
While this is important research, let's not demonize antibiotics completely. They save lives when used properly. The key is responsible prescription and usage. Maybe Indian medical associations should issue stricter guidelines for infant antibiotic use.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.