U of A study looks at antibiotics, asthma link

University of Alberta researchers are digging through dirty diapers looking for answers about childhood asthma and allergies.

Doctors say analyzing the stool of babies can help them determine if antibiotics can be linked to the respiratorydiseases.

"This is all about infant poop and factors in the early days of the infant that might affect its composition," said researcher Anita Kozryskyj. "We're specifically interested in antibiotic use and whether it changes the composition of infant poop."

"The ultimate question is whether these changes can lead to the development of asthma and allergies in children," she said.

More than 50 percent of infants will experience some sort of respiratory condition.

Dayna Hryhirchuk developed asthma as a child.She's hoping her 7-month-old Kyra wont do the same.

That's why she enrolled Kyra in the study.

"It's important to me to make sure that my children don't (develop asthma) and if there's anything we can do to help in the research I'm happy to do it," said Hryhirchuk.

Researchers will use Kyras stool samples to determine the change in her bacteria after she uses antibiotics.

They want to know if stomach bacteria is different in children with asthma and whether the differenceis causing the asthma.

Doctors say there's no question thatmost infants will need antibiotics during their first year.

"Really the purpose of the study is to say, can we make informed decisions, about when to use antibiotics, and which antibiotic to use," said Dr. Piush Mandhane, a lung doctor at the Stollery Childrens Hospital and Edmontons site leader for the study.

Researchers will collect samples from babies at three months of age and then again at one year.

The five-year study will involve the diapers of 5,000 infants.