Childhood antibiotic use linked to higher IBS risk in young adults

Research presented at UEG Week 2026 indicates that antibiotic use from childhood through early adulthood is linked to an increased risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) by age 24. The study analyzed data from 2,853 participants in the Swedish BAMSE birth cohort, utilizing records from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register.

Findings show that individuals who received antibiotics had 1.5 times the odds of being diagnosed with IBS compared to those who did not, after adjusting for sex and socioeconomic status. The risk appears to be dose-dependent; those with six or more prescriptions faced 1.7 times the odds, while those with three to five prescriptions faced 1.6 times the odds.

Specific antibiotic classes showed significant associations. Any use of tetracyclines was linked to a 1.4-fold increase in risk, while three or more prescriptions of cephalosporins were associated with a 6.0-fold increase in the odds of IBS. Researchers suggest that these associations may be driven by alterations to the gut microbiome.