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Antibiotics can cause an allergic reaction
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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European scientists reported that people who take antibiotics have a twofold increased risk of developing an allergic reaction to medications. The specialists were also able to trace the relationship between the occurrence of eczema and the use of antibiotics.
An antibiotic is a substance of natural or synthetic origin (much less often) that can suppress and slow the growth of living cells in the body. Antibiotics that can slow down or even stop the reproduction and growth of bacteria that are dangerous to health are usually used as medicines. One of the most common applications in modern medicine is the treatment of cancer. It is important to note that any antibiotics are powerless in the fight against viruses.
Recent studies by scientists from Western Europe involved analyzing and studying in detail the medical records of children who suffered from eczema and at the same time took antibiotics. Doctors were able to establish that eczema is most often found in children who took antibiotics in the first few years of life. Moreover, doctors claim that each course of treatment with antibiotics increases the risk of eczema by 5-7 percent. The current subject of research is the possible impact of antibiotics on pregnant women.
Several months ago, the University of London (UK) also conducted studies that determined the possibility of antibiotics influencing the intestinal microflora. British scientists believe that antibiotic treatment can negatively affect the natural intestinal microflora, which increases the likelihood of food allergies. Experts emphasize that the number of people suffering from eczema and food allergies is growing every year.
Drug allergies, according to scientists, can occur due to changes in the intestinal microflora and subsequent disruptions in the immune system. Early studies reported a link between the development of allergies and the use of drugs such as paracetamol, penicillin and other antibiotics.
There is another version that can explain the relationship between antibiotics and the appearance of eczema: some doctors believe that the problem should be looked at from a different angle. It cannot be ruled out that children who suffer from eczema are more sickly and need antibiotic treatment more often than others. Experts believe that at the moment medicine does not know enough facts that can explain the effect of antibiotics on allergies and the appearance of eczema. That is why you should not completely refuse antibiotic treatment, but, of course, it is better to refrain from frequent use.
Data processed by European scientists indicate that more than 50% of children who took antibiotics before the age of three subsequently suffered from food allergies. Eczema – a neuro-allergic skin disease – was observed in 30% of infants immediately after a course of antibiotic treatment.
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