In a new study recently presented at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Boston, MA, researchers have linked antibiotic use in children to increased risk of juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Share on Pinterest Researchers say children exposed to antibacterial antibiotics may be at increased risk of juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), also called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), is a condition that usually occurs in children before the age of 16. It is characterized by inflammation of the joints, which can cause pain, swelling and stiffness. JIA can also cause rash, fever and eye inflammation.

It is estimated that around 300,000 children in the US have some form of arthritis, with JIA being the most common.

JIA is an autoimmune disease, meaning it develops when the immune system attacks the body’s own cells and tissues. However, the reasons behind this are unclear.

“Previous studies have shown that genetics explains less than half of cases of JIA,” notes lead study author Dr. Daniel Horton of Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, DE. “Other studies have not consistently identified any one particular environmental trigger.”

Past research, however, has indicated that the body’s microbiome – an array of microorganisms that regulate metabolic and immune function – may play a role in the development of autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Furthermore, previous studies have suggested that early antibiotic use in children may be linked to IBD development.

With this in mind, Dr. Horton and his team wanted to see whether antibiotic use in children may influence onset of JIA.