By Jenny Hope

PUBLISHED: 19:34 EST, 19 June 2013 | UPDATED: 01:42 EST, 20 June 2013

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Babies given antibiotics before they are a year old are more likely to develop eczema, say British researchers.

After years of debate about a possible link, a huge study shows taking the drugs in the first year of life increases the chances of developing the skin disorder by 40 per cent.

Each additional course of antibiotics further raises the risk of eczema which affects one in five children in the UK by 7 per cent.

Babies given antibiotics before they are a year old are more likely to develop eczema, say British researchers

About 2.4million of the UKs 12million children have been diagnosed with the disease, caused by an over-active immune system and resulting in dry and itchy skin.

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Babies given antibiotics before they're one 'are more prone to eczema': Drugs increase risk by 40%