Antibiotic use from childhood linked to higher odds of IBS in young adulthood

A recent study presented at UEG Week 2026 has found a link between antibiotic use during childhood and a higher risk of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in young adulthood. The research analyzed data from 2,853 participants in the Swedish BAMSE birth cohort, examining antibiotic prescriptions from ages 9 to 11 until one year before IBS was assessed at age 24.

The results showed that antibiotic use was more common among those who later developed IBS, with 87.8% of IBS cases having received antibiotics during the study period compared to 80.2% of those without IBS. After adjusting for sex and family socioeconomic status, participants who had received antibiotics had 1.5 times the odds of IBS compared to those who had not.

The odds of IBS increased with the number of antibiotic prescriptions, reaching 1.7 times the odds for those who received six or more prescriptions. The study specifically found that tetracyclines and cephalosporins remained significantly associated with higher odds of IBS, with one course of tetracyclines associated with 1.4 times the odds and three or more courses of cephalosporins associated with 6.0 times the odds.

While the study does not establish causality, it provides important insights into the potential link between antibiotic exposure and IBS, suggesting that alterations to the gut microbiome may play a role. Lead author Dr. Jessica Sjölund emphasized the need for careful prescribing of antibiotics to balance their essential role in treating bacterial infections with the potential long-term effects of repeated exposure.