- Newborn babies sometimes get antibiotics in hospital care.
- Antibiotics can save a baby’s life in danger.
- Antibiotics also change the baby’s gut bacteria.
- Gut bacteria send chemical signals to the lungs.
- These signals help make lung immune cells.
- After antibiotics, immune cells change their behavior.
- Cells shift to repair the lung more often.
- Some of these changes stay into later life.
- Doctors should use antibiotics when they are needed.
- Scientists hope this research will guide new care.
Difficult words
- antibiotic — medicine that kills or stops bacteriaAntibiotics
- bacterium — a very small living thing in bodiesbacteria
- lung — organ in chest for breathing airlungs
- immune cell — part of body that helps fight germsimmune cells
- signal — chemical message that moves between body partssignals
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Have you ever taken antibiotics?
- Do you agree that doctors should use antibiotics only when needed?
- Have you talked with a doctor about antibiotics?
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