Study: Children Taking Too Many Antibiotics Likely to Develop Childhood Arthritis

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Children who regularly take antibiotics have been found to have an increased risk of developing juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), according to a new study.

The research, headed by Dr. Daniel Horton from the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, was published in the journal Pediatrics.

The study revealed that children and even adolescents who are exposed to antibiotics to treat certain infections were almost twice likelier to develop juvenile arthritis compared to their prescription-free peers.

 "This risk was greatest within a year of receiving antibiotics and increased with the number of antibiotic courses children were prescribed," said Dr. Horton in a report by Pioneer News. He added that the effect did not reflect on antifungal and antiviral drugs.

The research was conducted by acquiring information from the database of The Health Improvement Network (THIN). Researchers looked at over 150 children ages 1 to 15 years old that have been recently diagnosed with juvenile arthritis. They found that the more rounds of antibiotics a child took, the more chances of them developing juvenile arthritis, suggesting that prescription of antibiotics should be curbed if unnecessary.

"This public health finding is potentially important, considering that approximately one-quarter of antibiotics prescribed for children, and an estimated one-half of antibiotics for acute respiratory infections, may be unnecessary and potentially avoidable," the researchers wrote in the journal.

However, worried parents are advised not to panic over the new study. Dr. Horton explained that majority of children who have had antibiotics will not get arthritis as the study did not show a direct cause and effect.

US News & World Report stated that in the 5,000 to 10,000 US children ages 16 and below who are diagnosed with juvenile arthritis every year, genetics and environmental factors may have a hand in the development of the disease. The report noted that only a quarter of the cases were caused by genetics, leaving the three-quarters to environmental factors.

"Another explanation for these findings may be that infections cause arthritis, or that children who ultimately develop arthritis also get more infections because their immune system does not work properly," Dr. Horton explained.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) or juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is the most common form of arthritis in children. According to Kid's Health, it is unclear why kids get JIA. It is considered to be an autoimmune disease, where the body's white blood cells cannot discern harmful pathogens from healthy cells and tissues. JIA causes inflammation to the joints that exhibit symptoms like swelling, pain, and heat.