Story perspectives
Study Links Early Antibiotics to Chronic Health Risks
10/4/2025
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Story summary
- A 2025 Rutgers University study links early antibiotic exposure to higher risks of chronic conditions, including asthma and intellectual disabilities, after tracking over a million children.
- Each additional antibiotic course raises health risks.
- Over half of children receive antibiotics, often for acute otitis media that may resolve naturally.
- The study urges careful prescribing and caregiver decisions to reduce long-term impacts.
