Antibiotics play an important role in medicine, but as you may already know, the CDC states that they are frequently overused: up to 50% of antibiotic prescriptions are not optimal or effective.1 Systemic effects are particularly dramatic when antibiotics are given to infants, and research suggests that the effects of antibiotics on the pediatric microbiome can persist into adulthood.2 Recent research shows that frequent antibiotic use in childhood may increase the likelihood of a variety of conditions, such as allergies,3 asthma,4,5 atopic disorders, autoimmune disorders, obesity, and infections.2 It also appears that some of the effects of antibiotic exposure depend on genetic susceptibility.6

Gathering a complete patient history for those with chronic diseases should include asking patients about their early antibiotic exposure—especially for patients with allergy, autoimmunity, and obesity. When you know that early antibiotic exposure is an underlying factor in a patient’s chronic dysfunction, you can address the root cause with a treatment plan that helps to reestablish balance among the gut microflora. This can often mean the difference between restoring a patient to wellness and years of ongoing chronic issues.

Early childhood antibiotics are only one of a range of early life factors that affect health throughout adulthood. Collecting and interpreting this information can become part of your daily clinical practice, and IFM can help by providing a suite of patient-focused forms to gather, organize, and interpret early life and current health information.

Focusing on why patients have their particular symptoms and treating the root cause can change your perspective. Mark Hyman, MD, director of Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine and IFM board president of clinical affairs, shares his perspective on the detailed patient history as a key element of treatment: