A Danish cohort study has identified a connection between antibiotic and acid suppressant exposure during the perinatal period and the development of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) in later life.
The study revealed that infants exposed to any antibiotics during the perinatal period had a 40% greater risk of developing EoE later in childhood compared to matched controls who had no such exposure. Maternal use of antibiotics during pregnancy was associated with a 50% increased risk of the child developing EoE.
Additionally, infant use of acid suppression was linked to an increased risk of EoE development.
Eosinophilic esophagitis is a chronic condition in which eosinophils accumulate in the lining of the esophagus, leading to inflammation and difficulty swallowing.
While the study does not prove causation, it suggests environmental triggers for EoE, and the researchers point to a correlation between early antibiotic use and atopic diseases like EoE.
Medical experts emphasize the need for judicious antibiotic use, particularly in early life, and consider the possibility of maternal exposure during pregnancy when assessing the risk factors for EoE.
The study relied on data from a registry of 1.4 million children born from 1997 to 2018 and prescription data from the Danish National Prescription Registry.
Infants exposed to three or more antibiotic prescriptions saw their risk for developing EoE rise by 80%.
The association between acid suppressant use in infancy and EoE was found to be stronger for those born preterm compared to at-term counterparts.
Further research is needed to explore the impact of medication exposure during pregnancy and infancy on EoE risk.
