Infant Viral Infections Linked to Asthma

Protecting infants from viral infections may prevent the development of asthma late in childhood, according to an Australia study.

The findings, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, suggests that viral respiratory infections — most commonly rhinovirus and respiratory syncytial virus — interact with atopy — allergic reaction — in infancy to promote the later development of asthma. The occurrence of a lower respiratory tract infection in an atopic child during early infancy is associated with maximal risk for subsequent asthma, according to Merci M.H. Kusel, of The University of Western Australia.

Researchers studied 198 children at high risk of atopy, from birth to age 5. All episodes of acute respiratory illness in the first year were recorded, and nasal aspirates were collected for viral identification. The history of wheeze and asthma was collected annually, and atopy was assessed at six months, two years and five years.