Monash study finds connection between asthma and antibiotics

Early exposure to antibiotics can trigger long term susceptibility to asthma, according to new research from Monash University. Importantly the research team isolated a molecule produced by gut bacteria that in the future could potentially be trialed as a simple treatment, in the form of a dietary supplement, for children at risk of asthma to prevent them developing the disease.

Asthma affects over 260 million people globally and causes around 455,000 deaths annually. In Australia, 2.7 million people live with asthma and for 45% of these people, their asthma is poorly controlled.