Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine whether treatment of neonates with antibiotics before 1-week of age influences the occurrence of allergic disorders. Fifty eight infants in an antibiotics group and 58 infants in a control group were compared. There were no significant differences between these groups in gestational age or in birth weight, but the percentages of premature rupture of membranes and of turbid amniotic fluid were significantly higher in the antibiotics group than in the control group. Apgar score was also significantly lower in the antibiotics group than in the control group. There was no significant difference between these two groups in the usage of formula milk at 1-month of age. Eczema appeared at 4-months of age in 18 cases in the antibiotics group and in 12 in the control group; atopic dermatitis appeared in 4 cases in the antibiotics group and in 3 in the control group. During the course of this study, atopic dermatitis occured in 8 cases in the antibiotics group and in 9 in the control group. There were no significant differences in the appearance of wheezes, bronchial asthma or urticaria between the groups. Bloody stool appeared in 3 cases in the antibiotics group. It was thus not found that the usage of antibiotics in neonates induced allergic disorders.
