Prenatal antibiotic and antifungal use may affect fetal neurodevelopment, according to a recent Henry Ford Health study. Researchers found that pregnant women who took three or more courses of antibiotics were more likely to have children who were diagnosed with ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. ADHD is one of the most common neuropsychiatric disorders in children.
“Other studies have reported crosstalk between our gut microbiome and the brain, which may influence neurodevelopment,” says Jennifer Straughen, Ph.D., an epidemiologist at Henry Ford Health who worked on the study. “Antibiotics and antifungals can alter the diversity of this gut bacteria and, in turn, potentially affect the brain as it is developing.”
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Prenatal antifungal use was also associated with a 1.82 times higher risk for ADHD—but only in males. The reason for this is unknown, but Dr. Straughen says many neurodevelopmental conditions are more common among males. “While these findings are intriguing, is important to note that more research is needed,” she says.
Antibiotic And Antifungal Use During Pregnancy
Women who participated in the study were primarily prescribed antifungals for vaginal yeast infections, which are common during pregnancy, says Dr. Straughen. Antibiotics were likely prescribed for a variety of different illnesses. While you shouldn’t overuse antifungals or antibiotics, if one is necessary during pregnancy, don’t dismiss it.
“Untreated infections can have a lot of adverse effects for mom and baby, too,” says Dr. Straughen. “So it’s important to follow the recommendation of your provider. This is just one study—we do not know yet whether antibiotics and antifungals can cause ADHD.”
Reviewed by Jennifer Straughen, Ph.D., an epidemiologist at Henry Ford Health.
