In a message dated 10/14/99 8:52:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<< t is a known fact that antibiotics kill "good" bacteria as well as bad. I
 wonder if the loss of the good bacteria somehow influences the onset of
 problems. >>
Some believe that the imbalance in the intestines created by killing the
"good" bacteria leads to damage of the intestinal lining which in turn
contributes to food allergies. I believe this to be the case for my daughter.
Many of her problems began at age 2 1/2 after a particularly strong wide
spectrum antibiotic. (She had only been on antibiotics twice prior to this
and not at all her 1st year.)

Beth