Girls who receive antibiotics during their first year of life particularly within the first three months are significantly more likely to experience early puberty, new research has found.
Scientists presented the findings at the first Joint Congress of the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) and the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE).
Researchers from Hanyang University Guri Hospital and Hanyang University Medical Center in South Korea analysed data from more than 322,000 children aged 0–12 months.
They tracked the children until the age of 9 for girls and 10 for boys.
They discovered that girls who received antibiotics before the age of three months were 33% more likely to begin puberty early.
The risk jumped to 40% when antibiotics were administered before the child reached two weeks of age.
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Furthermore, those exposed to five or more classes of antibiotics faced a 22% higher risk of early puberty compared to those prescribed two or fewer.
Crucially, the study found no similar association in boys.
A Growing Concern: Central Precocious Puberty
The condition known as central precocious puberty (CPP)—refers to the unusually early onset of puberty: before age 8 in girls and before age 9 in boys.
Although it primarily affects girls and often has no clear cause, its prevalence has been increasing in recent decades.
Researchers continue to explore contributing factors, including environmental, genetic, and pharmaceutical influences.
Antibiotics In Infancy: A Call For Caution
Dr Yunsoo Choe, a lead researcher from Hanyang University Guri Hospital, explained the significance of their findings: “This population-based study is one of the first to explore this association between early-life antibiotic use considering timing, frequency and class and in such a large national cohort of children.”
He added that the results should encourage clinicians and parents to weigh the long-term implications of antibiotic treatment in infants.
Implications For Health Policy And Parental Decisions
This research highlights the importance of responsible antibiotic prescribing, particularly in early infancy.
As antibiotic overuse remains a global concern, findings like these reinforce the need to carefully consider the risks and benefits of medication in a child’s first months.
The study ultimately raises awareness of how early-life exposures can influence future developmental milestones and overall health.
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