According to Martin Healy, the overuse of antibiotics in childhood can increase the risk of gut inflammation, diarrhoea, food allergies and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as an adult.

"A person who was exposed to regular courses of antibiotics as a child is far more likely to suffer digestive problems from their 20s," he says.

"Antibiotics damage the gut wall and kill all friendly gut bacteria. If you use such medication too frequently, friendly bacterial populations may not recover properly.

How to diffuse: Reduce use of antibiotics to a minimum. If you have IBS, take a reputable food allergy test and eliminate relevant foods from your diet for several months, then reintroduce them slowly. Take supplements of friendly gut bacteria to restore good intestinal health.