Undernourished Children Can Benefit From Antibiotics: Study

Increased usage of antibiotics in poor countries helped reduce growth-related deformities in undernourished children, according to a study.

 Researchers from the McGill University and University of British Columbia examined data from nearly 10 studies to assess the growth benefits of antibiotics use in children aged between one and 12. Experts observed 4,316 children from seven low and middle-income countries around the world and recorded their pre-pubertal height and weight.

The researchers found increased use of antibiotic drugs and medications not only reduced the risk of infections and diseases but also resulted in growth developments in children that were ideal for their age, sex and weight.

Amee Manges, researcher and professor in the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia said in a news release, "Overall, we found that antibiotics treatment had a positive effect on both height and weight with increases of 0.04 cm/month for height and by 23.8 g/month for weight. After accounting for differences in the age of the study participants, effects on height were larger in the youngest children and effects on weight were larger in the trials that were conducted in Africa".

Mortality rates caused by malnutrition are high in nations with poverty and food supply problems. Lack of a balanced diet and proper nutrition hampers physical growth and natural immunity in children, making them highly susceptible to range of health problems and diseases. Majority of children from poor nations are shorter and weigh lesser than their counterparts from developed countries. 

The researchers explained that growth deformities are caused by bacterial infections that thrive in the human gut. Antibiotics can help ward off all growth-related risks.

Ethan Gough, study author and the faculty of Medicine (Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health) at the Mc Gill University said, "The overall gains in growth confirm the benefits of antibiotics in high-risk populations. However, more research is needed to better understand the underlying reasons for improved growth so that safer treatments can be developed".

Countries like Guatemala, Malawi, Zambia and Brazil reported positive health impacts of antibiotic medications on the younger population. According to the World Health Organization, about 20 million children, aged below five worldwide, are severely undernourished. The agency recommends antibiotics to fight against common infections like pneumonia and urinary tract infections, and to increase survival of HIV infected children.

More information is available in the British Medical Journal.