Learn more with pediatrician Erica Bonns

How antibiotics affect your child's health

Antibiotics are an essential part of treating infections and diseases for our children and should be taken if your doctor deems it relevant.

At the same time, it is important to know what potential side effects antibiotics can have on your child's gut health. Antibiotics can cause imbalance in your child's microbiome that in can have a long-term negative health impact.

Knowing this can help you as parent to make informed decisions to minimize the negative impact on you child's health.

Paediatrician and Medical Advisor at Alba
MD, Karolinska Institutet

Dr. Erica Bonns

"You shouldn't be afraid to give your child antibiotics if they’re needed. At the same time, we know they can affect gut health. However, there are ways to restore the gut and the good bacteria after an antibiotic treatment."

Antibiotics can be life-saving, but here is what you need to know

Antibiotics help fight bacterial infections by targeting different parts of bacteria to either kill them or stop their growth. Yet, when antibiotics kill harmful bacteria, they can also wipe out beneficial ones, leading to imbalances, this can lead to short- and long-term effects. ‍

Short-term effects: Imbalance in gut bacteria; Reduced good bacteria; Growth delays in weight

Long-term effects: Higher risk of asthma and allergies; Increased risk of obesity; Higher risk of inflammatory diseases

If your child has had to take antibiotics, don't worry, you are not alone and there are things you can do to address potential risks.

What you can do if your child has taken antibiotics

If your child has taken antibiotics, don't worry; there are ways to help support their gut to restore potential imbalances:

Breastfeeding: Breast milk contains human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), which help feed good bacteria like Bifidobacteria. It also supports your baby’s immune system, naturally boosting gut health.

Tailored Prebiotics: For formula-fed babies, special prebiotics can help mimic the gut-protecting effects of breast milk and support a healthy microbiome.

Probiotic Supplements: Probiotics can be helpful, especially for babies born by cesarean or those who’ve had antibiotics. They help restore a healthy balance of gut bacteria. However, make sure you get a recommended probiotic for your child's needs.

These are just a few things that you can do to restore your child's gut health. Consulting with an expert ensures your child receives personalized, tailored guidance.

Developed by scientists from Karolinska, KTH and Uppsala University

You're not alone. Our gut health test has helped many parents with children taken antibiotics.

It can be stressful as a parent to know what to do. Let Alba help you find the best way forward for your child and gain expert advice tailored to their needs.

Buy the test

FROM A PARENT

“He got sick and had to take antibiotics, and right after he had a big eczema flare. After Alba, his eczema has completely cleared.”

"My son was suffering from mild eczema that kept re-appearing all over his torso, back and legs. When he was 1.5 years old he got sick and had to take antibiotics, and right after he had a big eczema flare.

That's when I found Alba. The great thing about Alba is that it’s based on science. You’re not guessing or relying on generic advice. The insights are personal, and the steps are easy to follow.

We started diversifying Timo’s meals more and added yogurt, berries, and fermented foods. Within a few weeks, his eczema disappeared. Eight months later, it still hasn’t come back.”

- Noemie, Timo’s mamma

Read Noemie's story

FAQ

In children, it depends on the age. The baby's microbiome is constantly evolving from birth to adulthood, so monitoring its trajectory and development over time is even more informative than looking at only one snapshot.

From one microbiome test, you will discover:

Levels of friendly bacteria, promoting healthy development
Levels of unfriendly bacteria, as some types of bacteria are known to be unfriendly when in large share, being able to cause infections and inhibit friendly bacteria
Gut microbiome diversity, which is associated to health and wellbeing
Associations with constipation, from our clinical study in Sweden
Levels of bacteria promoting immune system development and associated to lower risk of allergy and eczema
Levels of bacteria promoting metabolic health and associated to healthy weight
Levels of bacteria promoting brain health and cognition
Most importantly, you will receive a set of personalized recommendations covering diet, environmental exposure, behavior and probiotic supplements (if needed) reviewed by our medical experts and discussed with you in a 1:1 consultation with a certified Nutrition & Health Coach. You will also receive 3 simple example recipes that promote optimal gut health.

References: Stewart CJ, Ajami NJ, O'Brien JL, Hutchinson DS, Smith DP, Wong MC, Ross MC, Lloyd RE, Doddapaneni H, Metcalf GA, Muzny D, Gibbs RA, Vatanen T, Huttenhower C, Xavier RJ, Rewers M, Hagopian W, Toppari J, Ziegler AG, She JX, Akolkar B, Lernmark A, Hyoty H, Vehik K, Krischer JP, Petrosino JF. Temporal development of the gut microbiome in early childhood from the TEDDY study. Nature (2018);

We are inhabited by 39 trillions of microorganisms that live on our skin, mouth, genitals, respiratory tract and gut. They are bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites and they are essential for our health - in fact, we couldn’t survive without them! The gut microbiome is the collection of all of our microbes in the gut, and their DNA. It has a fundamental role in digestion, immune system health and brain health. Imbalances in the gut microbiome have been associated with most chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, asthma, celiac disease and even cancer.

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References: Ghosh, T.S., Shanahan, F. & O’Toole, P.W. The gut microbiome as a modulator of healthy ageing. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol (2022); Vijay, A., Valdes, A.M. Role of the gut microbiome in chronic diseases: a narrative review. Eur J Clin Nutr 76, 489–501 (2022).

From a stool sample, we are able to collect the DNA of all gut microbes. From their DNA we can tell exactly which bacteria are present and what they are doing in your gut. We analyze bacterial DNA only, and we do not analyze your own DNA.

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