Antibiotic Warning

[Polly]

Hi PP!

The research is starting to show what we have suspected here for a long time.

from a blog by a pediatrician I read today:

Add to the growing list of reasons antibiotics might not be good for you and your children: a recent study showing a statistical link between early ear infections and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Researchers in the UK analyzed data from about a million children, looking specifically at the 750 who developed IBD (Crohn Disease and ulcerative colitis, mostly.) They then compared the kids with IBD to children without that diagnosis, and looked back at the frequency of prior ear infections. Ear infections are the most common diagnosis leading to the use of antibiotics in young children, so it was figured that more ear infection diagnoses were a good marker for more antibiotics.

Their analysis found that early ear infections increased the risk of IDB substantially, probably by about 80%. The highest risk was among children with the most ear infections, and among children with the earliest diagnoses. So more antibiotics, and earlier antibiotics, seem to be predictive of the later development of IBD.

IBD is a complex illness. It seems to be related to altered immune regulation in the gut and other tissues. It’s been speculated that the normal bacteria in the gut help with the early formation and control of the immune system. Early antibiotics could indeed interfere with that process, and are a plausible trigger for IBD, at least in people who are genetically predisposed. There are probably other factors at work, too.

Hugs,

Polly

[Joefnh]

Veeerrryyy interesting Polly. I was one of those children that had quite problematic ears. From about age 4 onward until I was about 12 I had a LOT of ear infections and in the 60's and 70's antibiotics were readily used. This was often associated with bronchitis. Just from my own recollection which would be from maybe age 6 onwards I must have had at least 12 rounds of antibiotics which does not include the earlier years. Even today I still have problems with my ears draining correctly and have to do the hold your nose pressure trick. I did not realize the connection with IBDs was that strong.

Polly since one of the discussion points in the article is about modified gut bacteria, I had taken the allergy shots for about 7 years. I had a significant systemic (fever fatigue) reactions to dust mold and pollen and had the shots to help alter how the immune system dealt with those substances. Would that method of immune system therapy affect the gut bacteria or be considered a risk factor for developing these IBDs ??

[Leah]

interesting. My daughter had many ear infections and now at 23 is gluten sensitive. hmmmmm

[Deb]

My son had terrible ear infections and LOTS of antibiotics. He's not acknowledging any symptoms yet though my daughter (minimal ear problems ) is.
Joe, I also had allergy shots for about 5 years. They helped my allergies enormously. I'll be interested to see your responses.

[JenniferS]

Oy! Interesting and info.

[Martha]

Polly, are there alternatives to antibiotics for children? My granddaughter Abby, who is 15 months, and has Down syndrome and dysphagia, has been on many courses of antibiotics, mostly for respiratory problems. Is there anything else the parents could do, other than give her antibiotics? They do give her breathing treatments.

Or do they just need to expect that she will eventually get an IBD?

I know you may not be able to answer the question, so if you can't give suggestions, I won't mind. I just wondered what else is out there.

Love,
Martha

[Zizzle]

Martha,
The children they studied did not grow up in today's era of readily available and better understood probiotics. I'm guessing supplementing with quality probiotics might help to lessen the chance of developing IBDs.

I had very few infections as a baby or young child, but took significantly more antibiotics as a teen (for MVP and UTIs). Of course my overseas travel and frequent gastroenteritis probably have more to do with my current state of affairs. I probably acquired some bad bugs, then killed off the good ones, and the bad ones became permanent residents, or permanent enemies. Sigh.

[Gabes-Apg]

Martha
as a natural alternative -Olive Leaf Extract (liquid)

I spent pretty much most of my childhood on antibiotics (ear infections, tonsils, bronchitis etc) as i was sick constantly from age 3 to age? 11 or so. I never learnt to swim

[gluten]

Hi, There is alot of information on-line about biofilms and ear infections. The bacterias are protected by have a biofilm that they create. When they are released they caused the infection and the antibiotic can kill them. But the bacterias in the biofilm are protected from the antibiotic. When they are released again the cycle continues. Multiple infections and many courses of antibiotics. I made many trips to the pediatrician when my children were young. Two had tubes installed because of the constant ear infections. Just google " Biofims and ear infections ". Jon

[Zizzle]

There's a theory that biofilms in the gut are involved in IBDs too...

[Polly]

Good question, Joe. I don't know for sure, but would guess that allergy shots would not significantly affect the gut bacteria, at least no where near as much as antibiotics would. That would be an interesting study - to look at the occurrence of IBD in allergic kids receiving that therapy.

Martha, I am not aware of any natural products that would be as effective as antibiotics. We have to rely on preventive measures (good old handwashing, alcohol gels, flu and other immunizations, adequate vitamin D levels, etc.). There are no controlled scientific studies to prove that Airborne, echinacea, garlic or even vitamin C can significantly prevent or cure a cold. Cold-fX (a ginseng prep) may be the exception when taken daily for several mos., but it costs about $30/mo. Zinc lozenges can shorten colds by about a day and reduce severity somewhat, but have not been proven to prevent a cold.

I agree with Z. - that taking probiotics while on antibiotics may help.

There is no question that antibiotics were used unnecessarily in the past. Probably most (if not the great majority) of ear infections are caused by a virus, but we always felt we needed to "err on the safe side" and treat with antibiotics anyway. Docs always worry more about infections that are so close to the brain. We also worry more about leaving a younger child umtreated. And this was before the dangers of antibiotics overuse became known. Although there are physical findings that point the doc to diagnosing viral vs. bacterial ear infection (like the fact that if it is one-sided it is more likely to be bacterial), these findings are never 100%. Just like anything in medicine.

Good point, Jon. That seems to be true of many respiratory infections. I am thinking specifically of sinus infections. We know how stubborn they can be, even with antibiotics.

Have a great day, PP!

Polly

[ant]

Dear Polly,

At aged 13 I had Osteomyelitis which was cured with huge doses of penicillin (oral). I am grateful for the cure, but I am pretty sure this (plus my genes) eventually brought me to MC.

Best wishes, ant

[Joefnh]

Thanks Polly. What brought my question up was the reaction from my rheumatologist when he saw in my medical records that I had the allergy shots.

Before I was official Dx'd with Crohns and MC I was sent to my rheumatologist and after discussing the symptoms and looking at some basic blood work with ANA and sedrate, he looked up from my records and asked how long I was on the allergy shots, I mentioned a good 5 years. Dr Yosts response was "oh this is interesting... I'll bet you your dealing with an IBD" or a statement more or less like that. I was then sent to GI doctor for the colonoscopy etc. I never did ask why the note that I took the allergy shots was an indicator to him of a possible IBD.

[tex]

OK, here's my two cents on this topic:

If you will recall, I've pointed out previously, not only in posts here, but also in my book, that suppressing oral allergy symptoms by the use of so-called "oral immunotherapy" techniques is a very inelegant solution to the problem. Here's a quote from the book:

Oral immunotheraphy treatments offered by immunolgists are currently in vogue as a way to desensitize patients who have food allergies and food sensitivities. Based on results that show a resolution of clinical symptoms, these treatments are claimed to be very effective in resolving food sensitivities. Immunologists point to the elimination of clinical symptoms and a reduction in IgE antibody levels as proof that their treatments are effective and safe. But do they actually resolve the problem? In my opinion, the answer is a resounding “No!” True, such treatments can eliminate a patient’s clinical symptoms, but as I pointed out in the previous paragraph, antibodies to those allergens continue to be produced in the intestines. This is easily verified by testing for IgA antibody levels by means of appropriate stool tests, or by analyzing biopsy samples taken from the intestines. Serum tests are worthless for this purpose.

Furthermore, researchers have demonstrated that when tolerance to an allergenic food is attained by the use of such desensitizing treatments, damage to the intestines continues to accumulate if the consumption of those foods continues.24 Burggraf et al. (2011) used mice as research subjects to prove that continued feeding brought tolerance (as demonstrated by the resolution of clinical symptoms) and a reduction in IgE antibodies, but inflammation in the jejunum (the middle section of the small intestine) continued to increase. Obviously this raises some serious questions about the validity and safety of the current use of oral immunotheraphy treatments.

And I see that I misspelled immunotherapy in the book.

But Joe, note that in this study at least, continued inflammation of the jejunum was clearly an issue.

Anyway, if this is what happens when oral tolerance is induced by means of using small but incrementally-increasing doses of an allergen in the diet, then it is probably also true that this same phenomenon occurs when tolerance is induced by other means, (such as sub-cutaneous or intramuscular injections). The body learns to tolerate the allergen, but the inflammation continues to build. Inflammation, as we should all know by now, is at the core of the development of all disease, so induced tolerance results a state of hidden perpetual inflammation, which leads to an increased probability of developing an IBD (or other autoimmune type diseases).

When we are reacting to an allergen, we are well aware that inflammation is present, but the cruel part of immunotherapy is the fact that it hides the inflammation. We think that we are doing fine, when in fact, we are creating an environment that is ideal for incubating serious autoimmune diseases.

That's just my opinion/theory, and obviously much more research needs to be done, but the research that's available so far, seems to support it.

Tex

[Joefnh]

That's some great info Tex, thanks for posting that, I know a few people who have worked on the oral route for desensitizing food sensitivities. As in my case through subcutaneous injections, which are by definition parenteral and that the injection was an aggregate of antigens (dust, mold & pollen), I was wondering why that triggered the concern with the doctor. Would that type of immune system 'training' result in a higher likelihood for developing an IBD? What if any relationship might exist with the environmental allergens immunotherapy treatments.