Autumn babies at greater risk of asthma

According to Reuters, babies born 4 months before the peak cold and flu season have a 30 percent higher risk of developing asthma, suggesting that these common infections may trigger asthma.

The researchers studied the medical records of 95,000 infants and their mothers in the state of Tennessee. They found that all babies were at increased risk if they had bronchiolitis due to RSV but autumn babies were at the highest risk.

GenVec Inc, AstraZeneca's MedImmune unit and others are working on an RSV vaccine.

Allergic sensitization is associated with rhinovirus-, but not other virus-, induced wheezing in children. http://goo.gl/PghX

References:
Autumn babies at greater risk of asthma: study. Reuters, Nov 21, 2008.
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