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Antibiotics in Late Pregnancy Linked to Cerebral Palsy : 10th Oct 08


A warning about the indiscriminate prescribing of antibiotics to pregnant women, to delay premature labour, was issued to all British doctors recently after research revealed that the practice might cause long-term harm to their babies.

The UK Government's chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson , wrote to GPs, obstetricians and other medical staff following publication of the first study of the subject. The findings showed an increased risk of cerebral palsy in the children of one group of women. There was also a small increase in problems such as poor eyesight or hearing.

Sir Liam said in the letter that antibiotics should continue to be given to women in premature labour where there was evidence of infection, or risk of it. But it added that the drugs should "not routinely be given" to women in premature labour where there was no sign of infection and whose waters had not broken. Research over the past 20 years has suggested that a key reason for premature birth may be underlying infection and the prescribing of antibiotics to curb it has grown. Independent News Service.

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