Childhood Antibiotic Use Linked to Increased Irritable Bowel Syndrome Risk
A Swedish study presented at UEG Week 2026 indicates that antibiotic prescriptions from childhood into early adulthood are associated with a higher risk of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) at age 24.
Antibiotic use from childhood through early adulthood is linked to an increased risk of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) by age 24, with the risk rising as the number of antibiotic prescriptions grows, according to a study presented at UEG Week 2026.
The research analyzed data from 2,853 participants in the Swedish BAMSE birth cohort. Antibiotic prescription data was drawn from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register, spanning from 2005 (when participants were 9-11 years old) up to one year before the IBS assessment at age 24. At age 24, 10.0% of participants had IBS.
Antibiotic use was more common among those with IBS: 87.8% had received antibiotics compared to 80.2% of those without the condition. After accounting for sex and family socioeconomic status, individuals who had received antibiotics had a 1.5 times higher risk of developing IBS. This risk increased with the number of prescriptions, reaching 1.6 times higher for three to five prescriptions and 1.7 times higher for six or more, compared to those who received no antibiotics.
Specific antibiotic classes showed a stronger association. Tetracyclines were linked to a 1.4 times higher risk of IBS, while three or more prescriptions of cephalosporins were associated with a 6.0 times higher risk. Researchers suggest that alterations in gut microbiota may explain the association, as antibiotics can modify gut bacteria, and gut microbiota changes are thought to play a role in IBS.
While antibiotics remain crucial for bacterial infections, the findings highlight the importance of judicious prescribing to avoid potential long-term effects from repeated exposure, according to lead author Dr. Jessica Sjölund.